\ 



VOICE FROM ABROAD, 



OR 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS, 



FROM A 



MISSIONARY TO HIS CLASSMATES. 



BY SHELDOiN DIBBLE, 



" Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature' 

Mark 16: 15. 
" Go— teach all nations." Mat. 28: 19. 

" Prove all things — hold fast that which is good.'' 1 Thes. 5: 21. 




PRESS OP THE MISSION SEMINARY. 

1844. 




LC Control Number 




tm P 96 031886 



CONTENTS. 



Introductory Letter. 

CHAPTER I. 

The true spirit of missions 1 

Lowliness and condescension, like our Savior's, 
essential to missionary character 4 

The true missionary is ready, like Christ, to endure 
suffering for the good of others 6 

The true missionary, like his master, waits not to 
be urged and entreated 8 

The true missionary, like the Savior, feels no less 
compassion and love to the heathen on ac- 
count of their ingratitude and enmity toward 
him 9 

CHAPTER II. 
Christian stewardship . . . . . ... ... . 11 

All we have belongs to God ....... 13 

To occupy all our powers for God, we must equal 

the engagednessand enterprise of worldly men. 14 
How much faithful stewards may consume on 

themselves and children 18 

The best use of a large capital 22 

Money not the main thing needed 24 

The luxury and honor of being God's stewards. 27 

CHAPTER III. 
Guilt of neglecting the heathen. ... 30 
Prospects of the heathen for eternity .. ... 32, 



iv 

Peculiar advantages of American churches to carry 
abroad the gospel of Christ 35 

Do we pray for the heathen as much as we ought? 37 

Do we give as much as we ought to evangelize 
the heathen? . 39 

Do we go and instruct the heathen as much as we 
ought? 42 

Why are the heathen lost? , . 45 

CHAPTER IV. 
The saviour's last command disobeyed. . . 50 
Excuses of Christians for not doing more to evan- 
gelize the heathen 55 

CHAPTER V. 
Laymen called to the field of mssions. . . 61 
More need now, than in early days, of a variety 

of laborers in the missionary field. ... 64 
To elevate all nations requires a great variety of 

laborers. 65 

Feasibility 71 

Other reasons why laymen should engage in the 

work of missions ......... 73 

CHAPTER VI. 

Claim of missions on ministers of influence. 76 

The mere fact of being installed Pastor, is not a 
valid reason for not becoming a missionary. 81 

Some excuses of pastors for remaining at home 
which are really reasons for going abroad. 84 

Some excuses of pastors that have weight, but 
are not sufficient 89 

Other reasons why some pastors of influence and 
talent should become missionaries. ... 93 

Some excuses common to pastors and to candi- 
dates for the ministry 98 

CHAPTER VII. 
Mistaken views of the great commission. . 104 
No peculiarity about the office of missionary. . 104 



r 



The fallacy of endeavoring to convert the world 

by proxy 106 

No cheap or easy way of converting the world . Ill 
Some rules that may be of use in agitating the 

question to become missionaries. . . . 113 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Trials to be met, not evaded 115 

Difficulties in the way of training children on 

heathen ground 118 

Reasons in the minds of Missionaries for not 

sending their children home .123 

Other thoughts about missionaries children . . . 128 
Entire consecration of children, not a duty pe- 
culiar to missionaries. . ....... 130 

A* 




INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 



To my classmates in Theology, 

Dear brethren in Christ, — Few periods of our 
lives can be called to mind with so much ease and dis- 
tinctness, as the years which we spent together in the- 
ological studies at Auburn. The events of that short 
season, and the sentiments and feelings, which we then 
indulged, will ever be clothed with a freshness and inter- 
est which the lapse of time cannot efface. Among 
the questions that occupied our thoughts, no one per- 
haps was so absorbing, or attended with such deep and 
anxious feeling, as that which respected the field of la- 
bor to which each should devote his life. And many of 
us, then, I remember, made a mutual engagement, that 
if spared and permitted for years to labor in different 
portions of the vineyard of the Lord, we would commu- 
nicate to each other our mature views in regard to the 
claims of different fields. Thirteen years have elapsed; 
and I propose to fulfil my engagement, by expressing, 
in the form of the present little volume, the views which 
f now entertain in regard to the claims of the foreign 
field. To you, my beloved classmates, the book is 
specially addressed, and to those to whom you may 
choose to prv se it it ; and if I use a frankness and free- 
dom, which niight possibly be construed into presump- 
tion, if 1 were addressing sirangers and elder brethren, 
I am sure that I shall fall under no such imputation when 
communieat ng my thoughts to you. I wish to express 
my thoug hts fam liarly as we used to do to each other, 
and at the Rime time 'with the earnestness and solem- 



Vtii 

nity, whirfl One ought always to feel when pleading for 
the perishing heathen. I have' used a form of address, 
which will make the book appropriate to all christians, 
ministers and laymen, supposing that some copies 
might fall under the perusal of persons other than those 
lo whom the Volume is particularly commended. 

A free, full and earnest discussion of such sentiments. . 
as those contained in this book 5 had no small influence, 
under God, in preparing the way for that extensive 
work of Grace at these islands, which has bsendenom- 
inated, the Great Revival. At the General Meetings 
of the mission in the month of May of 1836 and '37, the 
main doctrines of this volume were thoroughly canvass- 
ed, and with deep and thrilling effect upon every mem- 
ber present* Our feelings were enlisted,/ our hearts 
were warmed, and our thoughts were absorbed, by the 
great topic of the world's conversion. The theme, in . 
all its amazing import and solemn aspects, was allowed 
to take possession of our soulsi It gave importunity to 
prayer, earnestness and unction to our conversation and ; 
sermons, and zeal, energy and perseverance to every 
department of our work ; and the result was soon ap- 
parent in the wide spread and glorious revival. 

It can almost be said, therefore, that the main senti- 
ments of this volume have received the impress of the 
divine approbation. 

In the fall of 1837; I was constrained, by family afflic- 
tions and the failure of my own health, to embark for 
the United States. As I began to breathe the bracing 
air of Cape Horn, my strength in a measure revived, 
and having no other employment on board ship, I sketch- 
ed the outlines of most of the chapters of this little vol- 
ume. My heart was full of the theme, which I had ta- 



ix 

ken part in discussing before my embarkation, and I 
penned my thoughts freely, amidst the tossings of the 
ship and the care of two motherless children. 

On my arrival in the United States, I revised and fill- 
ed up the outlines I had sketched, and delivered them, 
in connexion with various historical lectures, at several 
places, as Providence gave me opportunity. Now, hav- 
ing returned to these islands, I have thought best, wheth- 
er judiciously or not, you must judge, to give the chap- 
ters a second revision, to dedicate the whole to you, and 
with the help of the press, to send you each a copy, ac- 
companying it with my prayers and my most affection- 
ate salutations. And may I not expect, Beloved Class- 
mates, that you will read the book with candor, weigh 
well its arguments, admit its entreaties to your hearts 
as those of your former associate, and act in accordance 
with the convictions of duty? 

Among the considerations that have prompted me 
to the train of thought contained in this book, as well 
as to the views interwoven m "my history of the Sand- 
wich Islands, I may name, as not the least weighty and 
prominent, a dutiful respect and filial obedience to the 
Instructions delivered to me in connection with others, 
by the wise and devoted Evarts, on the eve of our em- 
barkation for the foreign field. The delivery of those 
Instructions was his last effort of the kind, and they may 
therefore be regarded, as the parental accents of his de- 
parting spirit. On that occasion of interest, to which 
memory can never be treacherous, a part of the charge 
to us was in the following words : 

" From the very commencement of your 
missionary life, cultivate a spirit of enterprise. 
Without such a spirit, nothing great will be 



achieved in any human pursuit. And this is ait 
age of enterprise, to a remarkable and unpre- 
cedented extent. In manufactures, in the me- 
chanic arts, in agriculture, in education, in the 
science of government, men are awake and ac- 
tive ; their minds are ail on the alert; their in- 
genuity is tasked; and they are making improve- 
ments with the greatest zeal. Shall not the 
same enterprise be seen in moral and religious 
things ? Shall not missionaries, especially, aim 
at making discoveries and improvements in the 
noblest of all practical sciences, — that of ap- 
plying the means which God has provided, for 
the moral renovation of the world ? There are 
many problems yet to be solved, before it can 
be said, that the best mode of administering 
missionary concerns has been discovered. What 
degree of expense shall be incurred, in the sup- 
port of missionary families, so as to secure the 
greatest possible efficiency, with a given amount 
of money ; how to dispose of the children of 
missionaries, in a manner most grateful to their 
parents, and most creditable to the cause ; in 
what proportion to spend money and time upon 
the education of the heathen, as a distinct thing 
from preaching the gospel; how far the press 
should be employed; by what means the atten- 
tion of the heathen can be best gained at the 
beginning ; how their wayward practices and 



X] 



habits can be best restrained and corrected ; 
how the intercourse between missionaries and 
the christian world can be conducted in the best 
manner, so as to secure the highest respon- 
sibility, and the most entire confidence ; and 
how the suitable proportion between ministers 
of the gospel retained at home and missionaries 
sent abroad, is to be fixed in practice, as well as 
in principle : all these things present questions 
yet to be solved. There is room for boundless 
enterprise, therefore, in the great missionary 
field, which is the world." 

I have not attempted to discuss all the topics here 
named, but, have endeavored to cultivate in some de- 
gree, as enjoined in the paragraph, a spirit of enterpris- 
4ng inquiry. 

If this book shall impart any light on the interesting 
topic of Christian duty to the heathen, and be owned 
by the Savior, in the great day, as having contributed, 
Hhough but in a small degree, toward that glorious con- 
summation, of which the prophets speak, and to which 
we all look forward, I shall be abundantly satisfied, and 
feel richly rewarded. 

Your affectionate Classmate, 

Sheldon Dibble. 

Lahainaluna, 
Feb. 17th, 1844. 



1 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



CHAPTER I 



THE TRUE SPIRIT OF XVXISSIOSXS. 

The Apostles, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit 
-uniformly enforce their exhortations by tender appeals 
to the example, sufferings and death of their ascended 
Lord. Is humility inculcated? the argument is, Christ 
-humbled himself and became obedient unto death, 
even the death of the cross.' Is purity of life enjoin- 
ed ? the plea is, Christ -gave himself for us that he 
might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto him- 
self a peculiar people.' Is liberality required? we are 
pointed to Christ who, -though he was rich, yet for our 
sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might 
be rich. Is entire consecration to Christ enjoined ? 
the appeal is : 'He died for all, that they who live 
should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto 
him who died for them and rose again.' 

In like manner, in gaining a true idea of the spirit 
of missions, the proper course evidently is, to look at 
once at the missionary character of the Lord Jesus 
Christ. He was indeed a missionary. He came to 
save the lost. He was a missionary to us. He came 
to save us. 



1 



2 THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 

We had wandered and were lost. We were guilty 
and condemned. We were in a state of despair. No- 
thing within the compass of human means could avail 
in the least, to avert the impending wrath of God. All 
wisdom became foolishness. All resource was futile. 
Not a ray of hope remained — not the least nickering 
gleam. Whichever way the eye turned, there was 
darkness — horror — despair. But Christ came and hope 
again visited the earth. It was when we were helpless 
— hopeless — justly exposed to the horrors and agonies 
of the world of woe, that Jesus undertook his mission , 
and appeared for our relief. 

This truth cannot be too deeply impressed upon us, 
here in the very threshhold of our inquiries, in regard 
to the spirit of missions; and to spread it out distinctly 
before our minds let us take a simple illustration. 

You are a captive in a foreign land, and have long 
been immured in a deep, damp and gloomy dungeon. 
Sorrow, sighing and tears have been your meat day 
and night. Anguish, gloom and a fearful looking for 
of death, combined with hunger, cold and a bed of 
straw, have induced disease, wasted your flesh, destroy- 
ed every energy, and entirely drank up your spirits. 
Sentence of death is pronounced against you, and the 
day fixed for your execution. The massive walls and 
iron grating look down sternly upon you, and rebuke at 
once all rhope of escape. Entreaties, tears and the 
offer of gold and silver have been tried, but in vain. 
Effort and means have given place to horror and des- 
pair. The prospect before you is the scaffold, the 
block, a yawning grave and a dread eternity. In this 
extremity a friend appears, and offers to be substituted 
in your place. The offer is accepted. You, pale, e- 
maciated and horror-stricken, are brought from your 
dungeon to behold once more the light of day. The 
irons are knocked off from your hands and feet — your 
tattered garments exchanged for cleanly apparel — and 
a ship is in readiness to convey you to the land of your 
birth and the bosom of your friends. The vital current 



THE TRUE SPIRIT OF MISSIONS. 



3 



of your soul, so long chilled and wasted, now flows a- 
gaio with warmth and vigor — your eyes are lighted up. 
and tears of joy burst forth like a flood. But. in the 
midst of your joy. you are told of your deliverer. You 
turn and behold ! the irons that were upon you are 
fastened upon him — he is clothed in your tattered gar- 
ments — is about to be led to your gloomy dungeon — 
lie on your bed of straw, and" thence to be taken in 
your stead to the scaffold and the block. You throw 7 
yourself at his feet and entreat him to desist; but, when 
you And his purpose fixed., you fondly wish you had a 
thousand hearts to feel the gratitude you owe. and ten 
thousand tongues to give it utterance. 

Tne Lord Jesus Christ has done for us all this and 
unspeakably more. We w ere •under condemnation. 
The sentence of God's righteous law w as out against 
us. The flaming sword of divine vengeance was un- 
sheathed. All above and around us were the dark 
frowns of the Almighty and the red lightnings of his 
wrath. Beneath us, was not merely a damp dungeon, 
but the bottomless pit yawning to receive us, and its 
flames ascending to envelope our guilty souls. There 
was no escape. The prospect was weeping, wailing, 
and gnashing of teeth — tossings on a burning lake and 
the more rending agony of Jehovah's frowns for ever 
and ever. In this extremity the Savior appeared — 
substituted himself in our stead — bare our sins in Iris 
own body on the tree — received upon his own agoni- 
zed soul the vengeance which was our due, and thus 
delivered us from the untold horrors of eternal death, 
and opened before us the gate of Heaven. 

To save the lost then was the spirit of Christ. The 
Apostles imbibed this spirit. It is the spirit of mis- 
sions. The heathen are in a lest condition. If we 
have the spirit of Christ we shall do what we can to 
save them. The spirit of missions is not something 
different from, or superadded to. the christian spirit, but 
is simply, essentially and emphatically the spirit of 
Christ. It is compassion for the perishing, and such 



4 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



compassion as leads the possessor to put forth strenu> 
ous efforts and to undergo the severest sufferings. 

As we shall look a little in detail at the manifesta- 
tions of the spirit of Christ, we shall see very evidently 
the great outlines, of what alone is worthy to be called 
the true spirit of missons. 

Lowliness and condescension, like our Savior's, 
essential to missionary character. 

Look at the condescension of Christ, and learn a les- 
son of behavior toward the destitute and degraded of 
our race. The Son of God, by whom were all things 
created that are in heaven and that are in earth, wheth- 
er they be thrones or dominions, principalities or 
powers ; who upholdeth all things by the word of his 
power ; before whom ten thousand times ten thousand 
and thousands of thousands prostrate themselves, as- 
cribing power and riches and wisdom and strength 
and honor and glory and blessing; of whom it is said 
— 'Every knee shall bow to him, of things in heaven, 
and things in earth and things under the earth,' — the 
king eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God ; ' 
this Infinite Being empties himself of his glory, and 
comes down to toil, suffer and die ; — and for whom ? ' 
For us worms of the dust, insects that are crushed 
before the moth. 

If the Savior had come to our relief, clothed with 
the glory of heaven and surrounded by his holy angels, 
even that would have been a stoop of amazing conde- 
sc3nsion. But look at the babe of Bethlehem, born in a 
stable, and cradled in a manger — follow him to Egypt 
and then back to Nazareth. What humility, lowliness 
and condescension ! Look at the Savior in his public 
ministry. You find him oftenest among the poor, and 
always so demeaning himself as to be the one, that was 
meek and lowly in heart. His chosen walk was such, 
that it could be said with emphasis — 'to the poor the 
gospel is preached.' 



THE TRUE SPIRIT OF MISSIONS. 



5 



Such was the spirit of Christ and such his condescen- 
sion ! Such was the spirit of the Apostles. They took 
much notice of the poor, and charged Paul and^Barna- 
bas when going forth on their mission, especially to 
remember that class of persons. And, what else, I ask 
is a missionary spirit, butto be wil^g to labor with self- 
denial and perseverance to elevate and save the low 
and the vile? Natural me- * the pride of their hearts, 
are inclined to i--* uQWn ll P on the wretched — to re- 
paid " vV kind of loathing and disgust which 
5«ainciines them to make sacrifices in their behalf. This 
dislike is such that I have often thought it to be a fa- 
vor to the heathen, that they are far off and out of sight, 
— that if they were near and directly around many- 
professing christians, exhibiting all their defilement and 
ugliness in full view, that in that case, much of the 
shallow sympathy for them which now exists, would be 
turned into contempt and cold neglect. But if such 
had been the superficial and ill founded character of 
Christ's compassion, where should we have been at this 
present hour ? There is not a wretch now wallowing 
in the deepest mire and filth, who is so vile and low in 
our eyes, as we all were in the eyes of infinite purity. 
Yet the more wretched we were, the more deeply did 
Christ feel for us. This spirit of Christ is the only 
true spirit of missions — the only spirit that will make 
self-denying, continued and persevering efforts to save 
the heathen. 

There is no romance in the practical and every day 
duties of a missionary. The work is of a humble form, 
and emphatically toilsome. There is but very little true 
missionary spirit in the world, for it is not the sympathy 
of an hour, nor enthusiasm awakened by feelings of ro- 
mance, but, the pure love of Christ in the soul, con- 
straining the possessor to pray earnestly, and to labor 
cheerfully without notice or applause, for the . lowest 
human objects; and which finds a rich and sufficient 
reward for a life of toil, in leading one ignorant slave, 
one degraded outcast, or one vile and beastly heathen, 
1* 



6 



f 

THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS.; 



to close in with the offers of salvation- My observation 
m the field for thirteen years testifies to the fact, that no 
sympathy or enthusiasm will come down to the ardu- 
ous details of missionary work, and persevere in it for 
years that does not flow from such genuine and perma- 
nent love, as our Savior manifested when here upon 
earth. The more we become ]jke ChH ^ ^ 
snail we possess of the true ~; ssionary characten 

The true missionary is ready, like v>- 

^ ,s t, TO 

ENDURE SUFFERING FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS. 

How slow we are to make real sacrifices for the 
good of others! It was not so with Christ. He chose 
for our good, to become a man of sorrows and acquain- 
ted with grief — to be rejected, despised and hated — to 
become a mark for the bitterest rage and the finger 
of scorn. Go to the garden of Gethsemane. There 
behold, what even the pencil of the angel Gabriel can- 
not fully portray. There, in the stillness of the night, 
the Savior retires to give vent to the bursting emotions 
of his soul. Deep sorrow — keen anguish and excru- 
ciating agony roll in, like continuous surges, upon his 
tender spirit. His strength fails. Low he lies on 
the cold earth, and the drops from his pale and ago- 
nized features, like the clammy sweat of death — no, 
'like drops of blood' — fall to the ground. But, the 
agony of his spirit does not perturb the submission of 
his soul, nor shake the steadfastness of his purpose. 
The furious mob arrive, and he calmly yields himself to 
their disposal. See him in- the judgment hall — 
meek under insults, forgiving under bufferings and a- 
buse, submissive and quiet under the agonizing scourge. 
Then behold him, as faint from his gashes and his pains, 
and sinking under a heavy cross, he slowly moves to- 
wards Calvary. Look on, if your eyes can bear the 
sight. The rough spikes are driven through his feet 
and his hands — the cross is erected — the Lord of 
glory hangs between two thieves; — there, his torn, 



THE TRUE SPIRIT -OE .MISSIONS. 



7: 



bleeding, writhing and intensely excruciated body 
is to wear out its vitality in protracted agony. But 
all this suffering was but a single drop m his cup ot 
anguish. O the deep — fathomless, untold agony ot 
his soul, when under the hidings of his Father s face 
he exclaimed, "My Qod, my God, why hast thou 

forsaken me!" ~ 

' All -this suffering and agony the Infinite Son ot God 
endured, that we might be saved. Re had a vivid and 
perfect view of all this, and yet voluntarily assumed it 
that we wught live. 

la view ^f such an example, what shall we say ? If 
uiv. T, rd of gk>ry shrunk not from ignominy and scorn, 
untold agpny, exquisite torture and the most cruel 
death, can any one possess much of his spirit, and yet 
consider it too much to forego some of the comforts and 
delights of this fleeting life, and to labor and toil with 
perseverance and self-denial on a foreign shore, to in- 
struct the destitute and the dying — to enlighten the 
millions and hundreds of milieus of heathen, who have 
never heard the precious name of Jesus, and are entirely 
ignorant of the consolations of his grace ? Is it too 
much, even to expose one's self to an early grave in 
a sultry clime, if necessary, that some ray of hope may 
break in upon the gloom of the benighted and per- 
ishing nations ? God be praised, that the prospect of 
death did not daunt itys spirit of the self-denying Je- 
sus ! 

O, how has a feeling of shame and deep humiliation 
come over my spirit, as I have heard the objection, that 
'Missionaries and Missionaries' wives especially go 
forth to die 1' Thanks to the continued grace of Heav- 
en that some of this spirit of Jesus — -the self-sacri- 
ficing spirit — the spirit of devotement even unto 
death — still exists on earth. Let the objector inquire 
seriously, whether much of it reigns in his own bosom ; 
and whether in proportion as he is destitute of it, he 
be not lacking not only in the spirit of missions, but in 
the spirit of Christ, without which it is impossible to 



j 



8 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



be a disciple. For it is true not only of missionaries, 
but equally of all christians, that they are not their own ■ 
— that they are bought with a price, and are under ; 
obligations of entire consecration r each in his appropriate 
sphere, that are as high as heaven .and. as affecting as 
the scenes of Gethsemane and *r"al vary. And we°are 
bound equally with the early disciples, to count it not 
only a duty, but "all joy" to labor, suffer and die, if 
necessary, for Christ's sake, and in the good work which 
he has given us to do. 

THE TRUE MISSIONARY, .LtRE HIS MASTER, VAITS NOT 
TO BE URGED AND ENTREATED- 

Did we become sensible of. our lost, condition ? Did 
we with one accord lift up our penitent and broken 
hearted cries to the God of mercy, that he would pro- 
vide a way for our salvation ? Did the angels intercede 
in our behalf that the Savior would come? No : self- 
moved he appeared for our relief. He beheld us wed- 
ded to our sinful courses — unwilling to be taken from 
the mire and filth in which, we were rolling, and clinging 
with unyielding grasp to the very instruments of our 
ruin — strangely enamoured with the very vampires 
that were preying upon our souls. The more disinclin- 
ed we were to sue for m&rcy, the more the Sav- 
ior pitied us, for our very unwillingness to supplicate 
showed the depth of our ruin. 

In like manner, the more indisposed any heathen 
nation may be to receive us to their shores, admit the 
light of the gospel and partake of its blessings, the 
more deeply should we feel for them, and the more zeal- 
ously labor for their salvation. That a nation has not 
called for our. aid, but is resolutely determined to keep 
us at a distance, is a strong argument for being deeply 
interested in their behalf. Their very blindness and 
maniac disposition should call forth the deep com- 
miseration of our souls. Such was, the spirit of Christ. 
Such is the true spirit of missions. It is but a small 



THE TRUE SPIRIT OF NISSIONS. 



9 



measure of compassion to aid those who supplicate our 
assistance. The very blindness, guilt, madness and 
vile degradation of a people should , be to us a sufficient 
voice of entreaty. They were so to the he-art of the 
precious.. Savior, or he never woujd have undertaken 
the work of our redemption. 0> when shall it be. 
that christians and ministers of the gospel shall arise 
self-moved, or rather moved by the spirit cf Christ with- 
in them, and exert all their powers for the good of the . 
perishing? when they shall not, need appeal upon ap-. 
peal, entreaty upon entreaty, ancLthe visit of one agent 
after another, to remind them of their duty, and to per-, 
suade them to do it ? 

The true missionary, like the Savior, feels no. 
less compassion and love to the heathen' 
on account of their ingratitude and enmity, 
toward him. 

It was not a world of penitents that the Savior pitied, 
but a world of rebels — proud and stubborn rebels, 
ready to spurn every offer of reconciliation. He. saw. 
us, not on our knees pleading ior mercy, but scorning 
the humble attitude of suppliants, and raising our puny 
arms against the authority of Heaven. He beheld us. 
not as tne Ninevites once were, in sack-cloth and ashes , 
but recklessly violating all his holy laws. It was in 
view of all the deformity, bitterness, rage and heaven- 
daring impiety of our naked hearts, that Christ left his , 
throne of glory and died on the cross. It was for 
such brings, that he voluntarily endured humiliation, 
toil, self-denial and death. He tailed and died for the 
ungodly. He came, though men despised his aid. 
He died even for his crucihers. 

Are the heathen guilty — covered with blood and 
black with crime ? Do they exhibit many traits that 
are ugly and horrid? Would our visit to them fill 
them with rage and bitterness,- and tempt them to cru- 



THOUGHTS OX MISSIONS. 



cify us? What then? are we to relax our efforts for 
them, because they are ungodly ? So did not Jesus 
Christ. Let us learn from his example, and imbibe his 
spirit. That man, who maybe called a missionary, and 
yet is capable of being alienated in his feelings, by ill- 
treatment, contempt, abuse and rage from the heathen, 
is not worthy of the name. That professing christ- 
ian, iii whatever land he miy reside, who loves a sin- 
ner less on account of the personal abuse he may suf- 
fer from him, lias not the true missionary spirit — or. 
m other words, the spirit of Christ. 

And here I would repeat the remark with emphasis, 
in accordance with all that I have said, that there is 
nothing peculiar in the spirit of missions, except what 
peculiar. ty there may be in the spirit of Christ — that 
it is what all must possess to be disciples, and without 
when no one can enter heaven. It is a spirit humble 
vet elevating, self-sacrificing yet joyful, intensely fer- * 
vent yet reasonable, meek and yet resolute. It is all. 
this indeed, but yet nothing more than what is requir- 
ed of every christian ; and therefore no excuse can be 
more absurd and contradictory in its terms, than that 
sometimes made ; "it is not my duty to go to the hea- 
then fori never had a missionary spirit;'' for, one 
professes to be a christian, and yet excuses himself, on 
the ground of not having a missionary spirit, or in o- 
th'er words, of not being a Christian, — of not being in 
possession of a fair title to heaven. O, remember, 
christian reader, that the least desire to be excused 
shows a deplorable lack of the spirit, of Christ. 



» 



CHAPTER II. 



CRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP. 

On account of heavy domestic afflictions, and |be 
failure of my own health. I was induced, a few years 
since, to visit the U. States. Full well I remember my 
feelings when returning to my native land. I had been 
for seven years among a heathen people, and impress- 
ions by the eye are deep and affecting. I had seen 
degradation and vileness, destitution and wo. I had 
a vivid impression of the urgent claim of the destitute 
and the dying: and I had formed some conception of 
the greatness of the work, if we would put forth the 
instrumentality needed to elevate, and save them. And 
during a long voyage, I had time, not only to think of 
the Sandwich Islanders, but, to cast my thoughts a- 
broad over the wide world. The millions and hund- 
dreds of millions of our race often came up fresh be- 
fore me, sunk in untold vileness, covered with abomi- 
nations and dropping one after another, as fast as the 
beating of my pulse — 20 millions a year — into the 
burning lake. Painful as it was, I could not avoid the 
deep and certain conviction., that such was their end. 

Then, I thought of the greatness of the task if we 
would be the means under God of saving them from 
perdition: — that we have idol gods without number to 
destroy — a veil of superstition forty centuries thick to 
rend — a horrible darkness to dispel — hearts of stone 
to break — a gulf of pollution to purify — nations, in 
God's strength, to reform and regenerate. With such 
thoughts the conviction forced itself upon me, that the 
work could not be done without an immense amount 
of means and a host of laborers. 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



Think then, how chilling and soul sickening the in- 
telligence, that met me as T landed on my native shores, 
(in the spring of 1838,) that christians were disheart- 
ened by the pressure of the times, and were receding 
from ground already taken: — - that the bread of life 
must not issue from the press though millions 
were famishing for lack of it — that thirty heralds of 
salvation then standing on our shores must not 
embark, though the woes and agonies of dying souls 
were coming in peal after peal on every wave of the 
ocean — that they must be turned aside from the per- 
ilous yet fond enterprise to which the love of Christ 
had constrained them, and that future applicants must 
thereby be discouraged; — that missionaries abroad 
must be trammeled in their operations for want of 
means — and that multitudes of children and youth, 
the hope of the missions, gathered with much care and 
partially instructed and trained with much expense of 
time, strength and money — the centre of solicitude, 
love, and interest, — the adopted sons and daughters 
of the missionaries, must be sent back, — in Ceylon 
3, 000 in a day — to wallow again in the mire and 
filth of pollution, bow down to gods of wood and stone, 
and wander, stumble and fall on the dark mountains 
of heathen superstition — a prey to the prowling mon- 
sters that lie thick and ready to devour in all the terri- 
tory of Satan. Surely thought I, (and I had a right 
to the thought, ) christians in America must be des- 
titute of the common comforts of life ; — nothing but 
the direst necessity can induce them, thus to surrender 
back to Satan the ground already taken and the tro- 
phies already gathered, and to put far off the hope of 
the latter day glory. 

I looked abroad and made inqunes. I found indeed 
a derangement of currency and a stagnation of business. 
But, did I find, think you, that christians were 
destitute of the ordinary comforts of life? — that they 
were in a distressing emergency for food and clothing ? 

that their retrenchments had taken place, first in 



CRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP. 



13 



paring down personal expenditures, and last in efforts 
to save souls? Alas! the principal cause of the re- 
traced movement was not found in the reverse of the 
times. It was found to lie deeper ; and to consist in 
wrong views and wrong practice on the great subject of 
christian stewardship. To this subject, then, my 
thoughts for a time were much directed, and I tried to 
look at it in view of a dying world, and a coming judg- 
ment. The subject, I perceived, lay at the foundation 
of all missionary effort ; and my position and circum- 
stances were perhaps advantageous for contemplating 
it in a just and proper light. Be entreated, therefore, 
christian reader, to look at the thoughts that follow- 
in the spirit of candor and self-application. 

All we have belongs to god. 

A little heathen child was inquired of by her teach- 
er, if there was any thing which she could call her own. 
She hesitated a moment, and looking up, very humbly 
replied : 'I think there is.' What is it ? ' asked the 
teacher. 'I think', said she, 'that my sins are my own.' 

Yes, we may claim our sins — they are our own, but, 
every thing else belongs to God. We are stewards; and 
a steward is one who is employed to manage the con- 
cerns of another — his household, money or estate. 
We are God's stewards. God has entrusted to each 
one of us a charge of greater or less importance. To 
some he has entrusted five talents, to others two, and to 
others one. The talents are physical strength, property, 
intellect, learning, influence — all the means in our 
possession for doing good and glorifying God. We 
can lay claim to nothing as strictly our own. Even 
the angel Gabriel cannot claim the smallest particle of 
' dust as strictly his own. The rightful owner of all 
things great and small is God. 

To be faithful stewards, then, we must fully occupy 
! for God all the talents in our possession. A surrender, 
however, of all to God — of time, strength, mind and 
property, does not imply a neglect of our own real 
2 



14 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



wants. A proper care of ourselves and families enters 
into God's arrangement. This is not only allowed — - 
it is required of us ; and if done properly and with a 
right spirit, it is a service acceptable to God. This is 
understood then, when we say, that all our talents must 
be occupied for God. With this understanding, there 
must be no reserve. Reserve is robbery. No less than 
all the heart and all our powers can be required of us 
— no less can be required of angels. 

It is our reasonable service. We require the same 
of the agents we employ. Suppose a steward, agent 
or clerk in the management of your money, your estate 
or your goods, devotes only a part to your benefit and 
uses the rest for himself,how long would you retain 
him in your employment ? Let us beware then, that we 
rob not God. Let us be faithful clerks in hisbusiness^ 
and fully occupy for him the talents entrusted to us. 
God has an indisputable right to every farthing in our 
possession — to every ounce of strength, every particle 
of influence and every moment of time, and demands 
that every thing be held loosely by us — in perfect obe- 
dience to his order. For us or for angels to deny this 
right, would be downright rebellion. For God to re- 
quire any thing less, would be admitting a principle 
that would demolish his throne. 

TO OCCUPY ALL OUR POWERS FOR GOD, WE MUST EQUAL 
THE ENGAGEDNESS AND ENTERPRISE OF WORLDLY MEN. 

No less engagedness certainly can be required of 
God's stewards, than worldly men exhibit in the pursuit 
of wealth and honor. Let us, then, look at their con- 
duct and learn a lesson. They are intent upon their 
object. They rise early and sit up late. Constant 
toil and vigorous exertion fill up the day, and on their 
beds at night they meditate plans for the morrow. 
Their hearts are set on their object, and entirely engross- 
ed in it. They show a determination to attain it, if it 
be within the compass of human means. Enter a 



CHISTIAN STEWARDSHIP. 



15 



Merchant's Exchange, and see with what fixed appli- 
cation they study the best plans of conducting their 
business. They keep their eyes and ears open, and 
their thoughts active. Such, too, must be the wake- 
fulness of an agent, or they will not employ him. No- 
tice also the physician, who aspires to eminence. He 
tries the utmost of his skill. Look in, too, upon the 
ambitious attorney. He applies his mind closely to his 
cause that he may manage it in the best possible way. 

Now r , I ask, shall not the same intense and active 
state of mind be required of us, as God's agents or stew- 
ards ? Can we be faithful stewards, and not contrive, 
study and devise the best ways of using the talents 
that God has entrusted to us, so that they may turn to 
the greatest account in his service ? Is not the glory 
of God and the eternal salvation of our ruined lace, an 
object worthy of as much engagedness, as much en- 
grossment of soul, and determination of purpose, as a 
little property which must soon be wrapped in flames 
or the flickering breath of empty fame ? Be assured, 
we cannot satisfy our Maker by offering a sluggish ser- 
vice, or by putting forth a little effort, and pretending 
that that is the extent of our ability. We have shown 
what we are capable of doing by our engagedness in 
seeking wealth and honor. God has seen, angels have 
seen, and we ourselves know, that our ability is not 
small, when brought fully into exercise. It is now too 
late to indulge the thought, of deceiving either our Ma- 
ker or our fellow men on this point. e can lay claim 
to the character of faithful stewards, only as we embark 
all our powers in serving God, as worldly men do in 
seeking riches, or a name. 

/} Then, too, to be faithful we must be as enterprising 
in the work that God has given us to do as worldly 
men are in their affairs. By enterprising, 1 mean, bold, 
adventurous, resolute to undertake. Worldly men ex- 
hibit enterprise in their readiness to engage in heavy 
projects — in digging canals, in laying rail-roads, and 
in sending their ships around the globe. No port 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



seems too distant, no depth too deep, no height too 
high, no difficulty too great, and no obstacle too for- 
midable. They shrink not from scarcely any business 
on account of its magnitude, its arduousness, or its haz- 
ard. A man is no longer famous for circumnavigating 
the globe. To sail round the world is a common tra- 
ding voyage, and ships now visit almost every port of 
the whole earth. A business is no longer called great, 
where merely thousands of dollars are adventured, 
but, in great undertakings money is counted by mill- 
ions. Such is the spirit of enterprise in worldly matters. 

Now, I ask, are we not capable of as much enter- 
prise in using the means that are necessary to rescue 
souls from eternal burnings, and to place them at God's 
right hand ? Had the same enterprise been required 
, of us in some former century we might have plead in- 
capacity. But it is too late now to plead incapacity. 
Unless we choose to keep back from God a very impor- 
tant talent, we must put forth this enterprise to its full 
extent in the great work of the world's conversion. 

Such enterprise is needed. If the latter day glory 
is to take place through human instrumentality, can it 
be expected without some mighty movement on the 
part of the church? Can a work of such inconceivable 
magnitude be effected, till every redeemed sinner shall 
p lay himself out in the enterprise, as worldly men do in 
j their heaviest projects ? If God is to do the work with 
i his almighty arm, without instrumentality, then let us 
give it back to him ; but if the promises are to be ful- 
filled through the efforts of men, what hope can there 
be of the glorious day, till men are resolute to under- 
take great things - — not for themselves merely, but for 
\ God, their Maker and Redeemer. 

Is it not a fact that will strike us dumb in the judg- 
ment, that it is the love of money, and not zeal for God, 
that digs Canals, lays Rail-roads, runs Steam Boats and 
Packets — and, in short, is the main spring of every great 
undertaking? The love of money has explored, the 
land and the seas, traced rivers in all their windings. 



CHIST1AN STEWARDSHIP. 



found an entrance to almost every port, christian or 
heathen, studied the character of almost every people, 
ascertained the products of every clime, and the treas- 
ures of the deep, stationed agents, in all the principal 
places, and in not a few ports, a hemisphere distant, 
erected shops, factories, and even sumptuous paiaces. 

Men exhibit no such enterprise, in serving God. How 
many ships sail the ocean, exclusively to carry the gos- 
pel of Christ ? And in ports, where one magnificent 
Exchange after another, is continually added, stretching 
out its capacious arms, and towering toward heaven, 
how difficult it is to sustain a few humble boarding 
houses, for wandering seamen. Worldly enterprise is 
bold and active, and presses onward with rail-road speed. 
Shall, then, christian enterprise be dull and sluggish, 
deal in cents and mills, and move along at a very slow 
pace ? The thought is too humiliating to be endured. 

Suppose angels to be placed in our stead, would they, 
think you, be out-done by the seekers of wealth, in deeds 
of enterprise ? No, their cars would be the first in mo- 
tion and their ships the first on the wing. They would 
be the first to announce new islands, aud the first to 
project improvements, and for what? — that the gospel 
might have free course and be glorified. Enterprise 
and action, would then be exhibited worthy of our gaze 
and admiration. "O ! if the ransom of those, who fell 
from heaven like stars to eternal night, could only be 
paid, and the inquiry of the Lord were heard among the 
unfallen, 'Whom shall we send and who will go for us?' 
hold they back ? No, they fly like lightning to every 
province of Hell — the echo of salvation rolls in the 
outskirts as in the centre — a light shines in the darkest 
dungeon — the heaviest chains are knocked off, and they 
rest not, till all is done that angels can do, to restore 
them to their former vacated seats, in the realms of the 
blest." 

But, if angels would act thus, we too as the stewards 
of God ought to be the first in enterprise. God's work 
is infinitely more important than wealth or honor. 

2* 



IS 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS, 



And it is vain to think of being called faithful in the 
judgment, if the seekers of wealth or the aspirants for 
renown are suffered to outstrip us. 

How MUCH FAITHFUL STEWARDS MAY CONSUME ON 
THEMSELVES AND CHILDREN. 

It is not faithfulness for any one to consume on him- 
self or children any more of God r s property than he 
really needs. Suppose you hold in your hand an a- 
mount of property. It is not yours you remember, for 
you are merely a steward. God requires, that it be used 
to produce the greatest possible good. The greatest 
possible good, is the promotion of holiness in yourself 
and in others. Luxury, pride and vanity can lay no claim. 
Speculative knowledge, taste, and refinement must re- 
ceive a due share of attention, but, be kept in their place. 
Our real wants of course, must be supplied. But what 
are our real Wants — our wants not our desires — our 
real wants, not those that are artificial and imaginary ? 

We really need for ourselves and families what is 
necessary to preserve life and health — we need a men- 
tal cultivation answerable to our profession or employ- 
ment — need the means of maintaining a neat, sober 
and just taste — and we need too, proper advantages 
of spiritual improvement. Things of habit, fashion, 
and fancy may be dispensed with. Luxuries may be 
denied. And many things, which are called by the 
specious name of conveniences, we do not really need. 
If provision is to be made for all things that are conven- 
ient and pleasant, what room will remain for self-de- 
nial ? Things deemed comfortable and convenient may 
be multiplied without limit — consume all of God's 
wealth, and leave the world in ruins. If the world were 
not in ruins, then it might be proper to seek not only 
the comforts, but even the elegancies of life. 

Take a simple illlustration : In the midst of the wide 
ocean I fall in with a crew floating on the few shattered 
planks of a hopeless wreck. I have a supply of water 



CHIST1AN STEWARDSHIP. 



19 



and a cask of bread, but, the poor wrecked mariners 
are entirely destitute. Shall I keep my provisions for 
my own comfort and leave these sufferers to pine away 
with hunger and thirst? But suppose T have not only 
bread and water, but, many luxuries, whilst the men on 
the wreck are perishing for the want of a morsel of 
bread, and a drop of water ? And, then, suppose I 
have casks of bread, and other provisions, to dispose of, 
and intend with the proceeds to furnish myself with 
certain of the conveniences, and elegancies of life ; and 
my mind is so fixed upon obtaining them, that I refuse 
to relieve the poor tenants of the wreck, and leave them 
to the lingering death of hunger and thirst : O, who of 
you would not shudder at the hardness of my heart and 
the blackness of my crime ! 

But, the world dead in sin is surely a wieck. Mill- 
ions upon millions are famishing for the bread and wa- 
ter of life. Their cry — their dying cry has come to 
our ears. Shall we then take that which- might relieve 
them, and expend it in procuring conveniences, elegan- 
cies and luxuries for ourselves ? Can we do it and be 
guiltless of blood. 

But, perhaps, here, some one may have the coolness 
to thrust in the common objection, that a man's style of 
living must correspond with his station in society. It 
is wonderful to what an extent this principle is applied, 
A man, it is said, cannot be a governor of a state, a 
mayor of a city, a member of Congress, or hold any 
high office, unless his house, his equipage, his dress and 
his table, exhibit some appearance of elegance and 
wealth — and if a man live in a large and opulent city, 
whatever be his rank and employment, he must be 
somewhat expensive in his style of living, that he may 
exert an influence in the higher walks of society. Then, 
country towns, and small villages, take pattern of the 
large cities, and the plea goes down through every rank 
and every grade. Scarcely a christian can be found, 
who is not familiar with the doctrine. It is a very con- 
venient doctrine. In a qualified sense it may be true ? 



20 



THOUCHTS ON MISSIONS. 



but, in its unlimited interpretation it may be made to 
justify almost every article of luxury and extravagance: 
and I must therefore say a word or two in regard to it. 

It seems to be conformity to the world, and the world 
has always been wrong. The principles of the gospel 
have always been at variance with the maxims and cus- 
toms of the world. Conformity is always suspicious. 

Again, the doctrine cannot be applied to all places. 
Suppose a missionary conform to the society around 
him. Instead of raising up the heathen from their deg- 
radation, he would become a heathen himself. The 
descent to heathenism is very easy. The influence of 
comparing ourselves with ourselves and measuring our- 
selves by ourselves is felt by those living among barba- 
rians as well as at home, though the insidious influence 
leads in another direction. If there is a man on earth, 
who, more than any other, needs to cultivate neatness, 
taste and refinement, both in his mind and in his whole 
style of living, it is the man who is surrounded by 
a heathen population. Here then the rule conten- 
ded for fails. Travel round the world and how often 
will it fail ? 

Let us turn away then from this fickle standard, and 
look to reason enlightened by the word of God. Shall 
we not then find, that substantially the same style of liv- 
ing that is proper in one latitude and longitude is pro- 
per in another — substantially the same, paying only so 
much regard to the eyes of the world, as to avoid un- 
necessary singularity and remark — that this rule, 
founded on the principles of the gospel, makes its own 
way through, and is, as stated above, a proper provis- 
ion for health, mental cultivation, and a neat, sober 
and just taste ? Are not these the real wants of men 
allowed by the gospel, whether they live in London, or 
in Ethiopia? 

But, the ground on which I choose to rest this inqui- 
ry more than any other is the perishing condition of our 
dying race. Is fashion, splendor and parade appropriate 
in a grave yard, or in the chamber of the dead, and dy- 



CRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP. 



21 



ing? But. the whole world is a grave yard. Ceunt- 
less millions lie beneath our feet. Most of our earth, 
too, is at this moment a chamber of dying souls. Can 
we have any relish for luxuries, folly and needless ex- 
pense, amidst the teeming millions commencing the 
agonies of eternal death : 

I erect a splendid mansion — extend about it an ele- 
gant inclosure — furnish it with every elegance — make 
sumptuous entertainments, and live in luxuiy and at ease. 
In the midst of it, the woes and miseries of my ruined 
race are brought vividly before me — their present 
wretchedness and eternal agonies. And it is whisper- 
ed in my ear, that these woes might have been relieved 
by the expense I have so profusely lavished. Oh ! how 
like Belshazzar must I feel, and almost imagine that the 
groans of lost souls are echoed in every chamber of 
my mansion, and their blood seen en every elegance ! 

Let us have the love of Christ in our hearts, and then 
spread distinctly before us the world as it is — calcu- 
late the sum total of its present wretchedness and eter- 
nal woes. In such a world and as God's stewards, O. 
who can be at a loss in regard to the course of duty ? 
When 20 millions a year are entering upon the untold 
horrors of the second death, and we are stewards to 
attend to it, O, away with that coldness, that can 
suggest the necessity of conforming to the expensive 
customs of the world. May we, in heaven, find one of 
these souls saved through our instrumentality, and we 
can afford to forego all we shall lose by a want of con- 
formity. There is a nobleness in taking an indepen- 
dent stand on the side of economy, and saving some- 
tiling to benefit dying souls. There is a heavenly dig- 
nity in such a course, infinitely superior to the slavish 
conformity so much contended for. It is an indepen- 
dence induced by the sublimest motives — a stand 
which even the world must respect, and which God 
will not fail to honor. 



22 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



The best use of a large capital. 

I speak not of the hoarding of the miser : — that 
wouid be a waste of breath. I speak not of property in- 
vested in stock that habitually violates the Sabbath ; — 
no remark is necessary in so plain a case. But, I speak 
of large capitals, professedly kept to bring in an income 
for the service of the Redeemer. The subject is in- 
volved in many practical difficulties ; and they who 
are business men have some advantages of judging in 
the case which I have not. I will therefore merely 
make one or two inquiries. 

Is not the practice in many cases an unwise invest- 
ment of God's funds ? Is there not a reasonable pros- 
pect, that one dollar used now in doing good, will turn 
to more account, than twenty dollars ten years hence. 
A bible given now may be the means of a soul's con- 
version ; and this convert may be instrumental in con- 
verting other souls, and may consecrate all his powers 
and property to God ; so that, when years shall have 
passed away, the one dollar given to buy the Bible, 
may have become hundreds of dollars, and saved, with 
God's blessing, many precious souls. One pious young 
man trained for the ministry now, may be instrumental, 
before ten years shall expire, in bringing into the Lord's 
kingdom many immortal souls, with all their wealth and 
influence, and so the small sum expended now, become 
ten years hence entirely inestimable. The same may 
be said of a minister sent now to the heathen instead 
of ten years hence ; and the same, too, may be said of 
every department of doing good. It would appear then, 
that, in all ordinary cases, to make an immediate use 
of funds in doing good is to lay them out to the great- 
est possible interest —that by such a course we can be 
the means of peopling heaven faster than in any other 
way. We can hardly appreciate how much we save 
by saving time, and how much we lose by losing it. 
Wordly men, in their rail-road and steam packet spirit 
of the present day, seem to have caught some just sense 



CR1STIAN STEWARDSHIP. 23 

of the importance of time, and we, in our enterprises 
to do good must not be unmindful of it. 

Again, is not the expenditure of property in the work 
of doing good, not only the most advantageous, but 5 
also the safest possible investment of God's funds? 
Whilst kept in capital, it is always exposed to greater 
or less risk. Fire may consume it. Floods may sweep 
it away. Dishonest men may purloin it. A gale at 
sea may bury it. A reverse of times may ingulph it. 
But, when used in doing good, it is sent up to the safe- 
keeping of the bank of God; — it is commuted into the 
precious currency of heaven; — it is exchanged for 
souls made happy and harps and crowns of gold. 

Again, A. keeps a large property in capital, and 
therefore B. resolves to accumulate a large property 
and then give the income. But, whilst accumulating it, 
he not only leaves the world to perish, but, also, runs 
the risk of ruining his own soul — the awful hazard 
which always attends the project of becoming rich. 
And the result is, 99 cases out of a 100, that, the sum- 
mons of death arrives, before the promised beneficence 
is paid in. 

In view of such considerations would it not be iviser. 
safer and very much better, in most instances at least, 
that the greater part of large capitals should be made 
use of at once in the service of the Redeemer. 

It is said of Normand Smith, that "he dared not be 
rich; — and that it became an established rule with him, 
to use for benevolent distribution all the means which 
he could take from his business, and still prosecute it 
successfully ;" and that he charged a brother on his dy- 
ing bed, to do good with his substance while living, and 
not suffer it to accumulate to be disposed of, at the 
last extremity, by will. Sound advice. A few other 
such men there have been in the world, and they are 
the shining lights. Their example is brilliant all 
over with true wisdom. 



24 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



Money not the main thing needed. 

It is not acting always as faithful stewards, merely 
to accumulate wealth to promote the cause of Christ; 
for there may be more need of our personal service in 
disseminating the gospel, than any pecuniary means we 
can contribute. Christians are not faithful stewards, 
merely when they labor for Christ, but, when they do 
that by which they may most promote the cause of 
Christ. The dissemination of gospel truth is the great 
end to be aimed at, either directly or indirectly. Now, 
it. is evident that many must further this object by accu- 
mulating the pecuniary means ; but, the danger is, 
that too many — far too many prefer this course. Ma- 
ny conclude, with perfect safety and justness, that in 
practicing law or medicine, or in selling goods, in till- 
ing a farm or in laboring in a shop, they are doing as 
much to further the object as in any other way ; but, 
some, it is believed, come to such a conclusion, either 
from mistaken views or mistaken motives. The fact, 
that so large a proportion of God's stewards resort to 
the notion of operating by proxy, and that so very few 
choose to engage in the direct work, shows, that there 
is danger existing. Not only the fathers, but, a vast 
majority of the middle aged and the young, prefer to 
advance the cause of Christ by accumulating the pecu- 
niary means. Now, why is there such a rushing after 
this department of the great work ? 

The Savior calls for a great army of preachers, to 
carry his gospel every where, and to proclaim it to all 
nations, kindreds, and people. In truth, you need not 
go beyond the limits of the United States to feel the 
force of this remark. Look at the destitutions in the 
Western States, and see if there is not need of more 
men to preach the gospel. But, notwithstanding this 
need, only a few offer themselves to the work. Almost 
all young men, — even the professedly pious — choose 
to engage in lucrative employments. They slide 
easily into lucrative occupations, but, to bring them into 



CRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP. 



25 



the direct work of making known Christ, they need to 
be urged and persuaded by a score of arguments. 

It is needed, too, of lay members of the church, to do 
much in searching out the destitute and the dying, who 
are so thick even about their own dwellings, — to give 
here a word of warning, and there a word of consola- 
tion, — to add here a helping hand, and impart there 
the restoring effect of sympathy and kindness, — in 
short, to employ some hours in the day, in going every 
where, as the early disciples did, from house to house, 
and street to street, and in communicating, in an ap- 
propriate way, the simple truths of Jesus. Laymen, 
too, are needed in great numbers in the foreign service. 
There are reasons numerous and urgent, which I can- 
not here name, why lay members in the church should 
go abroad. 

But. notwithstanding this call for personal effort, it is 
too often, that we meet with church members, who arc 
completely engrossed from early dawn to the close of 
day . in accumulating wealth ; and who deny themselves 
the luxury of spending either hour of the 24, in convers- 
ing with souls, and leading them to Jesus. Such per- 
sons will give somewhat of their substance, when called 
upon, and press on, almost out of breath apparently, in 
the cares of the world, not thinking to say to this man 
or that, on the right and the left, that there is a heaven 
above and a hell beneath, and death at the door. You 
would almost imagine, from the conduct of some, that 
they would like to commit to proxy, even their own 
faith end repentance. Now, this entire engrossment in 
worldly cares, even though professedly for Christ's sake, 
will never illumine the dark recesses of the earth — will 
never usher in the millenial day. It is not so much, af- 
ter all, an accumulation of wealth, that is needed, as the 
personal engagement of Christians in making known 
every where, at home and abroad, the precious news of 
Jesus. The disposition to go every where, regardless 
of wealth, and with Jesus on our lips, must be the spirit 
of the church, before we can expect much good either 
3 . 



26 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



at home or abroad. The world will not be covered 
with the knowledge of the Lord ; as the waters cover 
the seas, till men to make known that word are scat- 
tered like rain on all the earth, — not only in heathen 
lands, but in the streets and lanes of large cities, and 
throughout the Western desolations. "So long as we 
remain together like water in a lake, so long the moral 
world will be desolate. We must go every where, and 
if the expansive warmth of benevolence will not separate 
us, and we arise and go on the wings of the wind, God, 
be assured, will break up the fountains of the great deep 
of society, and dashing the parts together, like ocean in 
his turmoil or Niagara in its fall, cover the heavens with 
showers, and set the bow of hope for the nations, and 
the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. God 
is too good to suffer either Amazon or Superior to lie still, 
and become corrupt, and the heavens in consequence 
to be brass and the earth iron." God is too benevo- 
lent a's _), in the arrangements of the moral world, to 
allow his people to be inactive — to have here a contin- 
uing city, and be immersed in the cares of the world, as 
though here were their treasure, while thousands about 
them are dying for lack of instruction, and the heathen 
abroad are going down to death in one unbroken phalanx. 
The church must take more exercise, and the proper 
kind, too, or she will grow up a frail and sickly thing, 
too weak in prayer, and too ignorant in effort to usher 
in the millenial day. 

It is a possible thing to seek wealth honestly for God, 
but, he that is called to such a work has more occasion 
to mourn than to rejoice, — he has occasion to tremble 
watch and pray ; for to be a faithful steward of God's 
property requires perhaps more grace than to be a faith- 
ful steward of God's truth We find many a faithful 
preacher of the Gospel where we find one Normand 
Smith. The grace needed is so great, and the tempta- 
tions to err so many, that almost all prove defaulters, and 
therefore it is, that the world lies in ruins; — not be- 
cause the church has not wealth enough, but, because 
God's stewards claim to be owners. 



CHISTIAN STEWARDSHIP. 



27 



How small the sum appropriated by a million and 
a half of God's stewards to save a sinkirg world ! The 
price of earthly ambition, convenience and pleasure is 
counted by millions. Navies and armies have their 
millions, — railroads and canals have their millions, — 
Colleges and schools have their millons, — silks, car- 
pets and mirrors have their million?, — parties of plea- 
sure and licentiousness in high life and in low life have 
their millions; and what has the treasury of God and 
the Lamb, to redeem a world of souls from the pains of 
eternal damnation and to fill them with joys unspeak- 
able ?' The sum is so small in comparison that one's 
tongue refuses to utter it. 

There must be a different scale of giving ; and the 
only way to effect it, is to induce a different style of 
personal consecration. Let a man give himself, or rath- 
er let him have a heart that cannot refrain from telling 
of Jesus, to those who- are near, and of going to those 
who are more remote, and the mere item of property 
you will find appended, as a matter of course, and on the 
plain principle that the greater always includes the 
less. We must learn to devote, according to our vows, 
time, talents, body, soul and spirit. Bodies and minds 
are wanted — the bones and sinews of men are required; 
— these more substantial things are needed as w 7 eil as 
property, in arduous services at home and still, more 
self-denying labor abroad, and no redeemed sinner can 
refuse either the one or the other, and continue to be 
regarded as a faithful steward of Jesus. Money, though 
needed, is by no means all that is required of us. 

The luxury and honor of being God's stewards. 

Though God has devolved upon us, as stewards, a 
responsible work, the weight of which is fearful, and 
sufficient to crush us, unless aided from on high, yet, 
the employment is one of indescribable delight. It is 
a pleasant work. Angels would rejoice to be so em- 
ployed. 

Is there any professing christian who does not relish 



28 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



the idea ? To such an one I would say : Your condition 
is by no means enviable. You deny yourself all true 
happiness. If you do not delight in the thought of 
being God's steward — of holding not only property, 
but, body, soul and spirit at God's order, then, you 
know nothing of what true luxury is. There is plea- 
sure in doing good, — there is a luxury in entire con- 
secration to God. The pleasures of this earth are emp- 
ty, vain and fleeting, — but, the pleasure of doing good 
is real, substantial and enduring. The pleasure of doing 
good is the joy of angels, — it is the thrill of delight 
which pervades the soul of Jesus, — it is the happiness 
of the eternal God. In not wishing to be God's stew- 
ards you deny yourself this luxury, — you refuse angel's 
food and feed on husks. O, there is a richness of holy 
joy in yielding up all to God, and holding ourselves as 
waiting servants to do his will. This fullness of bliss 
you foolishly spurn from you, and turn away to the 
'beggarly elements of the world.' Do you feel that the 
principles of stewardship contained in the Bible are too 
strict, — that too entire a devotement is required of you? 
Angels do not think so. Redeemed saints do not think 
so. The more entire the consecration the more per- 
fect the bliss. In heaven devotement is perfect, and 
joy of course unalloyed. Blot out this spirit of conse- 
cration — you blot out all true happiness on earth — 
you annihilate heaven. 

But, it is not only a luxury, but an honor too to be the 
stewards of God. What honor greater than that of 
continuing the work which Jesus commenced — • of 
being employed in the immense business of saving a 
ruined race ? What work more glorious than that of 
being the instruments of peopling heaven ? What 
employment more noble than to rescue immortal souls 
from endless agonies, and to raise them to eternal joys 
— to take their feet from the sides of the burning lake, 
and to plant them on the firm pavement of heaven,— 
to rescue victims from eternal burnings and to place 
them as gems in the diadem of God ? Would not Ga- 



CHISTIAN STEWARDSHIP. 



29 



briel fee] himself honored with a work so noble and glo- 
rious ? Were a Presidency or a Kingdom offered you, 
spurn it and be wise, but, contemn not the glory of 
being God's stewards. 

Remenber, too, whether these are your views or not, 
the work of God will go on. The world shall be con- 
verted. The glorious event is promised. Almighty 
power and infinite wisdom are engaged to accomplish 
it. All the resources of heaven are pledged. The God 
of Heaven, he will prosper his true servants, and they 
shall arise and build, but, those who do not relish the 
idea of being God's stewards, can have no portion, nor 
right, nor memorial in Jerusalem. The wheels of God's 
providence are rolling onward. Those wheels are high 
and dreadful. Will you, being a professing christian, 
dare to oppose the march of God ? ' Ah ! we do not 
oppose' say you. But, I reply, there can be no neu- 
trality. You must either help onwaid his car of victo- 
ry, or you do really stand in the way — will be crushed 
by his power and ground into the earth by the weight 
of his chariot. Take then, I entreat you, this warning, 
which is given you in earnestness, but in the spirit of 
love. 

Joy, glory and immortality to all, who will cordially 
assent to be coworkers with Jesus. They shall ride 
with him in his chariot from conquering to conquer, 
and shall sit with him on his throne in the day of tri- 
umph. 

Be entreated, then, professing christian, first to give 
your own soul to the Lord, and with your soul, all you 
have, all you are and all you hope to be — make an en- 
tire consecration. You will never regret having done 
so, in time or in Eternity. 

May God give us all grace, to imbibe wholly the 
true principles of stewardship — not the principles pop- 
ular in the world, but the principles of the Bible — 
those principles which hold out-the only hope of the 
latter day glory — of means commensurate with so great 
an end. 

3* 

I 



CHAPTER III. 



GUILT Or NEGLECTING THIS HEA- 
THEN. 

Daring all the years, that I have been allowed to la- 
bor for the heathen, my mind has been led to contem- 
plate, constantly and in tensely, the obligations of christian 

nations toward those who sitin darkness; obligations 

arising from the command of Christ, and the principles 
of the gospel. And I shall, therefore, in this chapter, 
freely, fully and solemnly express the sentiments, which 
have been maturing in my mind, on the great guilt, 
which christians incur in neglecting the heathen. 

The heathen world, as a mass, has been left to perish. 
And by whom? Not by the Father of mercies, —he 
gave his son to redeem it ; not by the Savior of sinners 
-—look at Calvary ; not by the Holy Spirit — his influ- 
ences have been ever ready ; not by angels — their 
wings have never tired when sent on errands of mercy. 
All that heaven could do has been done, consistently 
with the all-wise arrangement of committing an impor- 
tant agency to the church. The church has been sloth- 
ful and negligent. Each generation of christians has 
in turn received the vast responsibility — neglected it 
in a great measure and transmitted it to the next. The 
guilt of this neglect who can estimate ? 

That such neglect is highly criminal, the Bible every 
where testifies. It says: 'If thou forbear to deliver 
them that are drawn unto death and those that are rea- 
dy to be slain ; if thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; 
doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it ? and he 
that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall 
not he render to every man according to his works ? ' 



GUILT OF NEGLECTING THE HEATHEN. 



31 



This solemn interrogation needs no comment. The 
obvious import is : If our fellow men are perishing, 
and we neglect to do what we can to save them, we 
are guilty of their blood. But this testimony does not 
stand alone. What does God say to the prophet, who 
should see the peril of the wicked, and neglect to save 
him by giving him warning? ' His blood will I re- 
quire at thy hand. ' What does God say of the 
watchman of a city who should see the sword come, 
and blow not the trumpet ? ' If the sword come and 
take any person from among them — his blood will 

I REQUIRE AT THE WATCHMAN'S HAND. ' 

But, this is not only the sentiment of the Bible, but, 
the voice of common sense. 

A neighbor of mine is drowning in the river. With 
a little exertion I can save his life, but, neglect to do it. 
Shall 1 escape the goadings of conscience and the 
charge of blood guiltiness ? 

A house is in flames. The perishing occupants 
looking from a window, implore of me to reach them 
a ladder. I have some little affairs of my own to 
attend to, and turn a deaf ear to their cry. The flames 
gather around them — they throw themselves fiom the 
window and are dashed in pieces on the pavement. 
Who will not charge me with the loss of those lives? 

To day, a raging malady is spreading through the 
streets of a large city. The people are dying by hun- 
dreds. I know the cause — the fountains of the city 
are poisoned. From indolence, or from some other 
cause, I neglect to give the information, and merely at- 
tend to my own safety. Who would not load me with 
the deepest guilt, and stamp me as the basest of mur- 
derers ? 

Both Scripture and common sense, then, concur in 
establishing the sentiment : that if our fellow men are 
perishing, and we neglect to do what we can to save 
them, we are guilty of their blood. But, if this doc- 
trine be true, its application to christians, in the relation 
which they sustain to the heathen world, is irresistibly 



32 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



conclusive and awfully momentous. The soul shudders, 
and shrinks back from the fearful thought : If six 

HUNDRED MILLIONS OF OUR RACE ARE SINKING TO 
PERDITION, AND WE NEGLECT TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO 
SAVE THEM, WE SHALL BE FOUND ACCOUNTABLE FOR 
THEIR ETERNAL AGONIES. 

If such a charge is standing against us, we shall soon 
meet it. The day of judgment will soon burst upon 
us. Let us look, then, at the subject candidly, prayer- 
fully, and with a desire to do our duty. 

The conditions on which the charge impends are sim- 
ply two : that the heathen world is sinking to perdition, 
and that we are neglecting to do what we can to save 
them. If these two points are substantiated, the over- 
whelming conclusion is inevitable. It becomes us, 
then, to look well at these points — to examine them 
with faithfulness and with honesty. 

Prospects of the heathen for eternity. 

Is it true, that the heathen world is sinking to perdi- 
tion ? As fast as the beating of my pulse, they are 
passing into the world of retribution, and the inquiry is, 
What is the doom with which they meet ? Do they 
rise to unite with angels in the songs of Heaven ? or 
sink to mingle in ceaseless bowlings and untold misery ? 

Certain it is, that they are not saved through faith in 
Christ : for how shall they believe in him of whom they 
have not heard ? It is also clear that, God in his usual 
method does not bestow the gift of repentance and eter- 
nal life where a Savior is not known. ' It pleases God 
by the foolishness of preaching to save them that be- 
lieve. ' Those who are saved are said to be ' begotten 
by the word of truth ' — 'born of the word of God. ' 
As the heathen nations, therefore, are not furnished with 
the appointed means of salvation, it follows inevitably, 
that, as a mass at least, they are sinking to perdition. 
They are the ' nations which have forgotten God ' and 
' shall be turned into Hell. - They ' call not upon his 
name ' and he will 1 pour out upon them his wrath. ' 



GUILT OF NEGLECTING THE HEATHEN, 



It is unnecessary to enter into the inquiry, whether it 
is possible, in the nature of the case for a heathen un- 
acquainted with the gospel to be saved. It is sufficient 
to know the fact, that God has ordained the pleach- 
ing of the Gospel as the means of saving the nations, 
and that there is not an instance on record, which may 
not be called in question, of a heathen being converted 
without a knowledge of the true God and of his Son 
Jesus Christ. 

But, the consideration solemn and conclusive, which 
needs no other to corroborate it or render it overwhelm- 
ing, is the character of the heathen. Look at their 
character as portrayed by Paul in the first chapter of 
his letter to the Romans. Read the whole chapter, 
but, especially the conclusion, where he describes the 
heathen as "being filled with all unrighteousness, for- 
nication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness ; full 
of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity ; whisperers, 
backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, 
inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, with- 
out understanding, covenant breakers, without natural 
affection, implacable, unmerciful. " This description is 
not understood in christian lands, neither can it be ; 
but, missionaries to the heathen, who are eye-witnesses 
of what is here described, place an emphasis on every 
ephithet, and would clothe every word in capitals. 

The character of the heathen is no better now than 
in the days of Paul. It is worse. It is impossible that 
such a state of society should remain stationary. A 
mortal disease becomes more and more malignant, till a 
remedy is applied; a sinking weight hastens downwards 
with continually accumulating force, and mind, thown 
from its balance, wanders farther and farther from rea- 
son. It is thus with the disease of sin, the downward 
propensities of a depraved nature, and a soul revolted 
from God. Besides, Satan has not been inactive in 
heathen lands. He has been aware that efforts would 
be made to save them. And, night and day, year after 
year, and age after age, he has sought, with ceaseless toil 



34 



THOUCHTS ON MISSIONS. 



and consummate skill, to perfect the heathen in every 
species of iniquity, harden their hearts to every deed of 
cruelty, sink them to the lowest depths of pollution 
and degradation, and p'ace them at the farthest re- 
move from the possibility of salvation. It is impossible 
to describe the state of degradation and unblushing sin, 
to which the nations for ages sinking, have sunk, and 
to which Satan in his undisturbed exertions for centu- 
ries has succeeded in reducing them. It is impossible to 
give a representation of their unrestrained passions, 
the abominations connected with their idol worship, or 
the scenes of discord, cruelty and blood, which every 
where abound. I speak of those lands, where the gos- 
pel has not been extended. Truly, darkness covers 
such lands, and gross darkness the people. Deceit, 
oppression and cruelty fill every hut with wo ; and im- 
purity deluges the land, like an overflowing stream. 
Neither can 11 be said, that the conduct of the heathen, 
becomes sinless through ignorance. From observation 
for many years I can assert, that they have consciences, 
— that they feel accountable for what they do. 

Will, then, God transplant the vine of Sodom, un- 
changed in its nature, to overrun his paradise above ? 
Will he open the gates of his holy city, and expose the 
streets of its peaceful, inhabitants, to those whose heart 
is cruelty, whose visage is scarred with fightings, and 
whose hands are red with blood ? ' Know ye not, 

THAT THE UNRIGHTEOUS SHALL NOT ENTER INTO THE 

kingdom of heaven ? ' Where, then, is the hope of 
the unconverted heathen. If there were innocent hea- 
then, as some men are ready to imagine, in the face of 
God's word, and in the face of a flood of facts, then, 
indeed, they might be saved without the gospel. But, 
this mass of pollution, under wlrch the earth groans, 
cannot but disgorge itself into the burning lake. We 
can not evade the conclusion, painful as it is, that the 
teeming millions of this world of sin, are sinking to per- 
dition. 



GUILT OF NEGLECTING THE HEATHEN. 



35 



Peculiar advantages of American churches to 
carry abroad the gospel of christ. 

Our ability in any enterprise is the measure of our 
duty. "If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted 
according to what a man hath and not according to 
that he hath not. " "To whom much is given of him 
will much be required. " And to determine whether 
christians in the United States are DOING WHAT 
THEY CAN to save the heathen from their awful 
doom — the second point of inquiry proposed — it is 
necessary to look at their unparalleled advantages. 

It may be said then, that christians in America are 
not trammeled in their efforts to do good, by any gov- 
ernmental restrictions, or ecclesiastical establishment. 
The remark is trite, but, no less true, that the genius 
of our free constitution is eminently propitious to call 
forth energy and enterprise. And the remark applies 
with no more force to worldly matters, than to the bu- 
siness of doing good. The religion cf Christ courts no 
extraneous influence, and is dependant for its power on 
no earthly aid. Under our free government, uncon- 
trolled, unrestained and unsupported, it is left to exert 
its own free and native energy. We can plead, there- 
fore, no arbitrary hindrance of any kind in the work of 
propagating the gospel. And we can carry the gospel, 
too, disconnected from any prejudicial alliance with po- 
litical interests. This is the free, disincumbered, and 
unshackled condition, in which the Gospel is permitted 
to have free course in our beloved land; and it is a tal- 
ent put in our hands to be improved. 

Again, no country poseesses such advantages of edu- 
cation, as the United States. In no land is knowledge 
so generally diffused throughout the different grades of 
society ; and in no land do such facilities exist for ac- 
quiring a thorough education. Schools, Colleges and 
Seminaries are open equally to the high and to the low, 
to the rich and to the poor ; and only a good share of 
energy is required, to rise, from any grade or condition 



36 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



of society, to eminence in general learning or professional 
study. The general intelligence of the community is 
such, that nothing but disinclination can prevent them 
from being acquainted with the wants of the world, and 
their duty to evangelize it ; and the facilities for fitting 
themselves for the work are such, that nothing but 
criminal delinquency can hold back a very large army 
from entering the field. This is an immense advantage 
committed to the American churches, for propagating 
the religion of Christ. It is another very precious talent 
committed to their trust, which if they fail to improve, 
they treasure up guilt. 

Again, the American churches possess agreat advan- 
tage in the facilities so generally enjoyed for accumula- 
ting wealth. The road to comfort and to affluence is 
open to all ; and notwithstanding all reverses, the re- 
mark, as a general one, is still true, that the prosperity 
of the United States — of the whole mass of the people, 
is altogether unexampled, and that enterprise is vigor- 
ous and successful. In the greatest strait, how much 
retrenchment has there been in the style of living ? And 
as we look into the future, we see, God's Providence 
favoring, that wealth is destined to flow in upon the 
land like a broad and deep river. Look at the extent 
of territory, bounded only by two rolling oceans, and at 
the resources, which from year to year, are being devel- 
oped — varied, unnumbered and inexhaustible. If then, 
unto whom much is given, of them will much be re- 
quired, what may not God justly demand of American 
christians ? 

Another advantage, which the American church pos- 
sesses, is the Spirit which has been poured out upon 
her from on high, God has been pleased, to bless her 
with precious revivals. The Holy Ghost has come 
down frequently and with power, and gathered in mul- 
titudes of souls. What God has wrought for the Amer- 
ican Zion has been told in all lands, and every one ap- 
plies the Savior's injunction, ' Freely ye have received 
— freely give. 5 One great reason perhaps, that the 



GUILT OF NEGLECTING THE HEATHEN. 37 



same blessings are not now enjoyed, is the neglect of 
Christians to make this return, and to labor gratefully 
for the destitute and the dying. It was expected, and 
justly too, that the land of Apostolic revivals would be 
the first to imitate the Apostles in the work of saving 
the heathen. A failure to do this may bring a blighting 
curse upon the churches, if it has not brought it upon 
them already. 

Surely, if there is a nation on earth to whom are in- 
trusted five talents, ours indeed is that nation. Our 
ability is not small. We must come up to a high mea- 
sure of christian action, before it can be said with truth, 
that we are doing what ice can. to save our ruined race. 
The United States — a nation planted by God. enriched 
by his Providence, nourished by his Holy Spirit, and 
brought to the strength of manhood, in this solemnly 
momentous time of the 19th Century, seems to have 
committed to her in a special manner the work of the 
world's conversion. Who knoweth, but that she is 
brought to her preeminent advantages for such a time 
as this, for the interesting period preceding the latter 
day glory : and now if she prove herself unworthy of 
so lofty and responsible a trust, and neglect to put forth 
her strength to usher in the glorious day, deliverance 
will break out from some other quarter, but, she, like a 
third Babylon, may sink in the bottomless abyss. An 
immense --- an untold responsibility rests upon us — a 
weight sufficient to crush us. O, that God would give 
us grace to act worthy of our trust — to do what we 
can for a dying world ! 

Do WE PRAY FOR THE HEATHEN AS MUCH AS WE 
OUGHT ? 

Were one duly impressed with the condition of per- 
ishing millions, certainly no less could be expected of 
him, than to fall on his knees many times a day, arid to 
lift up his cry of earnest entreaty on their behalf. Fill- 
ed with the love of Christ, and* having distinctly and 
constantly before his mind the image of 20 millions of 
4 



38 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



immortal souls dropping yearly into the burning lake* 
surely he could not refrain from an agony of prayer, 
that should burst its way out at all hours of the day, 
wherever he might be, and in whatever he might be en- 
gaged. Under such a sense of our perishing race - — a 
sense true to facts — tears would run down like a river 
day and night. He would have no rest. He would 
arise and cry out in the night. In the beginning of the 
watches, he would pour out his heart like water before 
the face of the Lord, and lift up his hands toward him 
for the life of perishing millions. This, one would do, 
if he felt in any good degree, the pressure of a ruined 
and sinking race. O, could one see the world as it is 
— have a view of the sum total of human misery, pre- 
sent and eternal, vividly and fully portrayed, the sight 
would induce such an agony of feeling, as, for ought we 
know, might separate soul and body. 

But, what has actually been the amount of prayer 
offered to the Lord for benighted nations, even if every 
formal petition be brought into the account ? Is it not 
a fact, that many professing christians do not remember 
the heathen once a day, and some not even once a 
month ? Let the closet, the family altar and the 
monthly concert testify. Prayer meetings for the hea- 
then — O, how thinly attended ! what spectacles of 
grief to Jesus, and to angels ! But, if so little prayer 
of any kind is offered up for the heathen, how very 
small must be the amount of prayer on their behalf, 
which is really honest before God. That prayer is hon- 
est which is proved to .be so by a readiness to labor, 
give, and go. Very few prayers for the heathen have 
been such, that Christ could accept them — place them 
in his golden censer, and present them before the throne. 

Since such is the case, what wonder is it, that a mill- 
ion and a half of Christians in the United States should 
be so inefficient. Inefficient, I say, for what do a mill- 
ion and a half of professing christians accomplish in 
the midst of a population of seventeen millions of souls ? 
By their vows they are bound to be as self-denying, as 



GUILT OF NEGLECTING THE HEATHEN. 



39 



spiritual and devoted, as though they were missionaries 
to foreign lands. If we should send abroad a million 
and a half of missionaries, we should expect, that, under 
God, they would soon be the instruments of converting 
all nations. But what, in fact, does this vast number 
of professing christians — or in other words, of the 
'professedly missionary band of Jesus Christ, accom- 
plish in the narrow limits of the U. States ? O, there 
is a deplorable lack in the churches of the deep devo- 
tion and missionary character of our ascended Savior. 

Do WE GIVE AS MUCH AS WE OUGHT TO EVANGELIZE 
THE HEATHEN? 

It would perhaps be a liberal estimate to say, that a 
million and a half of professing christians in the United 
States give, on an average, year by year, to save the hea- 
then, about 24 cents each, or 2 cents a month. There 
are other objects, it is true, that call for contributions, 
but, put all contributions together and how small the 
amount ? 

The Jews were required to give to religious objects 
at least one fifth of their income. One fifth of the in- 
come of a million and a half of christians at 7 per cent., 
supposing them to be worth on an average 500 dollars 
each, would be $10,500,000. This \s merely the 
income of capital of which we now speak. A fifth of 
the income from trade and industry would at least 
double the amount, and make it $21,000,000. Is 
any thing like this sum given by American christians 
to support and propagate the religion of Jesus ? What 
christians have done, therefore, is by no means a mea- 
sure of their ability. 

To see what men can do, it is necessary to look a- 
way from christians, to those whose ruling principle is 
a thirst for pleasure, for honor and for gain. How vast 
a sum is expended at Theatres — on fashionable a- 
musements and splendid decorations — not to mention 
the hundreds of millions sunk by intemperance, and 
swallowed up in the deep dark vortex of infamous disi- 



40 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS.. 



pation. Men are lavish of money on objects where 
their hearts are set. And if the hearts of christians 
were set on saving the heathen, as much as wicked men 
are set on their pleasures, would they, think you, be 
content with the present measure of their contributions? 

Look, too, at what men can do, who are eager in the 
pursuit of wealth. Under the influence of such an in^ 
centive, ships, rail-roads, canals and fortresses spring up, 
I was about to say, like mushrooms in a night ; and 
fleets bedeck the seas like the stars of the firmament. 
Money is not wanting when lucrative investment is the 
end in view. Even professing christians can collect 
together heavy sums, when some great enterprise prem- 
ises a profitable income. They profess, perhaps, to be 
accumulating money for Christ, but, alas ! to what a 
painful extent it is mere profession ! Worldly men ac- 
complish much, for their hearts are enlisted. Profess- 
ing christians, too, accomplish much in worldly projects, 
for their minds become engrossed. What then, could 
they not accomplish for. Christ, if their feelings were 
equally enlisted in his cause ? They might have in 
serving Christ, intellects as vigorous, muscles as strong, 
and this advantage in addition, a God on high who has 
vouchsafed to help them. 

Take another view of the case. The child, that is 
now sitting by your side in perfect health, is suddenly 
taken sick. Its blooming cheeks turn pale, and it lifts 
its languid and imploring eyes for help. You call a phy- 
sician — the most skillful one you can obtain. Do you 
think of expense ? A protracted illnesss swells the bill 
of the physician and apothecary to a heavy amount. 
Do you dismiss the physician, o» withhold any comfort 
for fear of expense ? 

Your child recovers and becomes a promising youth. 
He takes a voyage to a foreign country. The ship is 
driven from her course and wrecked on some barbarous 
coast. Your son becomes a captive, and after long anx- 
iety, you hear that he is alive, learn his suffering con- 
dition ; and. you are told that $ 50 will procure his 




GUILT OP NEGLECTING THE HEATHEN, 41 



ransom. I will suppose you are poor — have not a dol- 
lar at command, and that the sum can be raised in no 
other way than by your own industry and toil. Now, I 
ask, how many months would expire before you would 
save the sum from your hard earnings, and liberate your 
son ? But, what is an Algerine dungeon ? It is a hea- 
ven, compared with the condition of the heathen. In 
the one case, there are bodily sufferings ■ — • in the other, 
present wretchedness and eternal agonies. 

1 once fell in company with a man of moderate cir- 
cumstances, with whom I used this argument. He 
promptly replied: * It is true. Three years ago I thought 
I could barely support my family by my utmost exer- 
tions. Two years since, my darling son became deran- 
ged, and the support of him at the Asylum, costs me 
$ 400 a year. I find that with strict economy and 
vigorous exertion I can meet the expanse. But, if any 
one had said to me three years ago, that I could raise 
400 dollars a year to save a lost world, I should have 
regarded the remark as the height of extravagance.' 

Now, I ask, ought not men to feel as much in view 
of the eternal and unspeakable agony of a world of 
souls as a parent feels for a suffering child? God felt 
more. He loved his only son with a most tender affec- 
tion — inconceivably more tender than any earthly pa- 
rent can exercise toward a beloved child. O ! how keen 
the sensation when the Savior left the bosom of his Fa- 
ther. And yet, when the Father placed before him — 
on the one hand the eternal ruin of the human race 
— and on the other, the sufferings and death of his 
beloved Son, which did he choose ? Let Gethsemane 
and Calvary answer. Can christians then have much 
of God's spirit, and not feel for the eternal agonies of 
untold millions, more than for the temporal sufferings of 
a beloved child ? But, if christians felt thus, what ex- 
ertion would they make — how immense the sum they 
would cheerfully raise, this present year, to evangelize 
the heathen ! Feeling thus, a very few of the wealthy 
churches might sustain the present expenditures of all 
4* 



THOUGHTS ON MfSSTONSV 



foreign operations. Yet all the American churches 
combined, feeling as they do now, fail to send forth a 
few waiting missionaries and suffer the schools abroad to 
be disbanded. The truth is, in the scale of giving, the 
church as a body, (I say nothing of individuals or of 
particular churches,) has not risen in its feeling above 
the freezing point. What they now contribute is a 
mere fraction compared with their ability. 

Millions are squandered by professing Christians on 
a pampered appetite, in obedience to fashion, a taste for 
expensive building, a love of parade, and on newly in- 
vented comforts and conveniences of which the hardy 
soldiers of Jesus Christ ought ever to be ignorant. 

Then, again, some who are economical in their ex- 
penditures have but very little conception of what is 
meant by total consecration to God. There must he an 
entire reform, in this matter. Every Christian must 
feelj that his employment, whether it be agriculture, 
merchandize, medicine, law, or any thing else, is of no val- 
ue any farther than it is connected with the Redeemer's 
kingdom — that wealth is trash and life a trifle, except 
as they may be used to advance the cause of Christ, and 
that so far as they may be used for this purpose they 
are of immense value. Let every christian feel this 
sentiment, let it be deeply engraven on his heart, and 
how long, think you, would pecuniary means be want- 
ing in the work of the world's salvation ? 

Do WE GO AND INSTRUCT THE HEATHEN AS MUCH AS 
WE OUGHT? 

This is indeed the main point. To pray, formally 
at least, is quite easy ; to give is a little more difficult; 
but, to go, in the minds of most persons, is entirely out 
of the question. Satan understood human nature when 
he said, ' All that a man hath will he give for his life. ' 
Speak of going, and you touch the man, his skin and 
his bones. To go, requires that a man have such feel- 
ings as to begin to act in earnest, as men do in other 
matters. Men act in person, when they are deeply 



GUILT OF NEGLECTING THE HEATHEN. 



43 



in earnest. In the case supposed of a sick child, does- 
the mother simply express a desire that the child may 
recover? does she merely give money and hire a nurse 
to take little or no care of it ? No, in her own person 1 
she anticipates its every want, with the utmost attention 
and watchfulness. When a son is in bondage on a bar- 
barous coast, does the father merely pray that his son 
may be redeemed ? does he merely send money for his 
ransom ? No, he chooses, if possible, to go in person 
and carry the sum, that no means may be left untried 
to accomplish the object he has so much at heart. Men 
who are deeply interested in an important matter, where 
there is much at stake, cannot be satisfied with sending, 
they choose to go themselves. This remark is true in 
all the enterprises and transactions of life the world o- 
ver. 

If then, after all, the measure of going is the true 
measure ofinterest, to what extent, I inquire, have christ- 
ians of America gone to the heathen ? Alas ! the num- 
her is few, very few indeed. 

Look at the proportion of ministers who go abroad. 
In the United States the number of ministers is about 
one to a thousand souls. This is in a land already in- 
telligent and christian — in a land of Universities, Col- 
leges and Schools — - in a land of enterprise, of industry 
and of free institutions, where the arts nourish and 
where improvements are various and unnumbered — 
and more than all, in a land where more than a 
million and a half of the people are professing christians, 
and ready to aid the ministers of Christ in various ways. 
On the other hand, even if missionaries from all Christ- 
endom be taken into the account, there is not more 
than one minister to a million of pagan souls — no in- 
telligent christians to assist as teachers, elders, cate- 
chists and tract distributors — no physicians, artists and 
judicious legislators, to improve society and afford the 
means of civilized habits, — no literature worthy of the 
name, — no Colleges or even common schools of any 
value, — no industry and ent; rprise ; and every motive 



44 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS* 



for it crushed by arbitrary and tyrannical institutions^ 
the mind degraded and besotted, inconceivably so, and 
preoccupied also with the vilest superstition, the most in- 
veterate prejudices and the most arrogant bigotry. 
Who can measure the vast disproportion ? What mind 
sufficient to balance extremes so inconceivably immense? 
On the one hand, a minister to a thousand souls with 
many helpers and a thousand auxiliary influences in 
his favor — on the other, one minister to a million of 
souls, with no helpers and no auxiliary influences, find- 
ing out an untrodden track amidst unnumbered obsta- 
cles, and penetrating with his single lamp into the dark 
and boundless chaos of heathenism. This is the rate 
at which Christendom loves her neighbor as herself. 
And in view of it, judge ye, whether American christ- 
ians go as much as they ought to instruct and save the 
benighted nations. 

We said, that the number of missionaries to the hea- 
then population is about one to a million of souls ; but, 
let not the conclusion be drawn, that every million of 
heathen souls has a missionary. By no means. The 
few hundred missionaries preach to a few thousand 
souls. The millions and hundreds of millions of hea- 
then are as destitute of preaching as though a mission- 
ary never sailed, as destitute of the Scriptures as though 
a Bible were never printed, and as far from salvation* 
I was about to say, as though Jesus never died. Men 
speak of operating upon the world. Such language is 
delusive and ruinous. The present style of effort, or 
any thing like it, can only operate on some very few 
and small portions of the earth. To influence materially 
the wide ivorld, christians must awake to a style of 
praying, giving and going, too, of which they have as 
yet scarcely dreamed. The work of going into all the 
world and preaching the gospel to every creature has 
scarcely been undertaken in earnest. And how vain 
it would be to expect to make any material impression 
on the world, as a whole, when so small a company from 
the 13,000 ministers in the United States go abroad, 



Gl'ILT OF NEGLECTING THE HEATHEN". 



45 



and a less number even of lay members from the vast 
body of a million and a half. 

Why are the heathen lost ? 

They are not lost because a Savior is not provided for 
them. God so loved the world that he gave his only 
begotten Son ' •' The preaching of the cross is the pow- 
er of God and the wisdom of God both to the Jew and 
the Greek.' Facts show, that in every nation however 
barbarous and degraded, the gospel of Jesus has power 
to convert, purify, elevate and save. These facts are 
stubborn and irresistible. 

Neither are the heathen lost, because the ocean sepa- 
rating them is rarely passed. For the sake of gain, men 
can visit the most distant and sultry climes. To solve 
a question of science or merely to gratify curiosity, they 
can circumnavigate the globe, or penetrate far into the 
icy regions of the poles. The improvements in navi- 
gation and the extension of commerce have united the 
two continents in one. The Atlantic ocean no longer 
separates you from Africa, nor the Pacific from China. 
The amount of intercourse between the seekers of weahh 
from christian lands and almost every heathen country 
is absolutely immense. 

Why then are the heathen left to perish? There is a 
lack of earnestness in the church, in the work of the 
world's conversion. What does the present earnestness 
of. the church amount to ? They contribute on an ave- 
rage two cents a month each, and they find that the pit- 
tance of money will more than suffice for the small num- 
ber of men : and then the cry is £ More money than 
men ' A few men are obtained and then the pittance 
of money fails, and 1 More men than money ' is the cry. 
A year or two afierward the supply of men is gone and 
the cry again is reversed. As if, in repairing the wastes 
of the New York fire, the citizens collecf together a 
small quantity of bricks, and then find they have more 
bricks than workmen. So they employ a few more 
men. and then find they have more men than bricks. 



46 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS, 



Was this the rate at which the ravages of the great fire 
were so soon repaired ? Was this the measure of their 
engagedness in rebuilding the city ? 

Some derangement takes place in the Erie Canal — 
a lock fails — an aqueduct gives away — or a bank 
caves in. Is business stopped on the Canal till the next 
season, because the times are hard, and it is difficult to 
obtain money to make repairs ? Some derangement 
takes place in a railroad ; is travelii g postponed till 
next year ? But in the work of doing good, the reverse 
of times is regarded a sufficient excuse to detain mission- 
aries, disband schools and take other retrograde steps. 
We coolly block our wheels, lie still and postpone the 
world's conversion till more favourable times. Men 
are earnest in worldly matters — in digging a canal — 
in laying a rail-road or in repairinga city •— but, in God's 
work — the work of saving the nations, their efforts are 
so weak, that one is at loss to know which is most prom- 
inent, the folly, or the enormous guilt. 

The heathen are lost, then, because in our efforts we 
come so far short of our ability, that God cannot con- 
sistently add his blessing. Can it be that the service 
rendered by the church as a body is acceptable to God } 
It is not according to that she hath — it forms an im- 
mense and inconceivable contrast to that measure of 
effort which lies fully within her power. Is it not then 
as though an imperfect sacrifice were offered to the 
Lord — a lamb full of blemish ? If the church were 
weak, and it were really beyond her ability to do more 
than she does at present, then God would accomplish 
great victories by the feeble means. He can save by 
few as well as by many. He would make the " worm 
Jacob to thresh mountains. " But, since God has 
blessed the American church with numbers and with 
great and peculiar advantages, he requires of her efforts 
that accord with her ability. The poor widow^s mites 
accomplish much, but the wealthy man's mites, or the 
wealthy nations thousands, when she is fully able to give 
millions , and her veiy few sons, when it would even 



GUILT OF NEGLECTING THE HEATHEN. 



47 



benefit her to spare a host of her ablest men, what shall 
we say of such an offering ? The reason why God 
blesses the efforts of the American church may be, that 
there are some widows, and some others too, who do 
what they can — who honestly come up to the measure 
of their ability. For the sake of these, God may add 
his blessing, just as for the sake of ten righteous men he 
would have spared Sodom. But, no very great and 
conspicuous blessing can be expected to attend the la- 
bors of missionaries, sueh as the conversion of China or 
of Africa, till the church begins to pray, give and go 
according to her ability — till she begins to come up to 
the extent of her powers in her efforts to save the hea- 
then. Then, when she renders according to that she 
hath, her service will be accepted — it will be a sweet 
savor before God — he will look down and smile — his 
throne of love will come near the tabernacle of his 
saints, and the noise of his chariot soon be heard among 
the ranks of the enemy. The church, then, w 7 ith 
Christ at their head, shall go on rapidly from conquering 
to conquer, till all nations, tongues and people shall bow 
the knee before him. As soon as the church shall put 
forth all her strength so as to render an acceptable ser- 
vice to God, it is of little consequence whether she be 
weak or strong, few or many, the blessing will descend 
— the mountains will at once break forth into singing, 
and the trees shall clap their hands for joy — God will 
come, take up his abode with the saints and verify all 
that is expressed by the latter day glory. 

It is plain, then, not only that christians come far 
short of doing what they can to save the heathen, but, 
that if they would come up to the measure of their duty, 
they might actually, under God, rescue the dying na- 
tions from their impending doom. If they would take 
hold in earnest, pray with fervency and faith, and prove 
their zeal by giving and by going, then, the Providence 
of God would not leave a bolt or a bar in their way, ex- 
cept what might be necessary to test their perseverance. 
Let every ambassr dor of Christ, and every christian too, 



48 



THOUGHTS ON MISSTON&. 



possess the unreserved consecration of Paul, and mang- 
iest that burning zeal which carried him as on the wings 
of an angel, to preach to the gentiles the unsearchable 
riches of Christ. Let e very redeemed sinner, minister 
or layman, stand ready, not merely to contribute of his 
substance, but, to traverse with cheerful step the burn- 
ing plains of Africa or the icy mountains of Greenland. 

Then, the darkness that now envelopes the earth 
would soon be dispelled, the torch of revelation be car- 
ried to the most distant lands, and its light made to 
penetrate the most gloomy abodes of men ; the radiance 
of heavenly truth would be poured around «the dying 
bed of every pagan, intelligence flow in to us from every 
quarter, not only of individuals, but of nations converted 
to God, and the shout of triumph would soon be heard, 
£ The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms 
of our Lord. ' 

It seems to be true, therefore, that the heathen are 
sinking to perdition, and true, also, that we might 
be the means of saving them if we would. Shall 
we not then be found ACCOUNTABLE for their 
eternal agorues ? O, what a thought is this — account- 
able for the endless agonies of six hundred millions of 
immortal souls ! O, Christian, pause and look at this 
thought. Look at it deliberately, for we shall be obli- 
ged to do so at the judgment day. No one can plead 
exemption from it, unless he does ivhai he can to save 
the heathen. O, my soul, how much blood, how much 
weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, will stand at 
thy account in the day of judgment ? 

I appeal to each one of you, examine yourselves in 
the light of this truth. Call up your prayers — your 
contributions and your personal efforts. Compare 
what you have done with what Jesus did for you. I 
entreat you, open your ears and hearts too, to the 
groans of a dying world. Listen to the notes which 
like the noise of seven thunders, peal after peal are 
rolling in upon your shores ; 



<GIHLT OF NEGLECTING THE HEATHEN. 



4-9 



* Hark ! what mean those lamentations, 
1 Rolling sadly through the sky? 

* 'Tis the cry of heathen nations, 
" Come and help us, or we die !" 

'Hear the heathen's sad complaining, 
1 Christians ! hear their dying cry, 
1 And, the love of Christ constraining, 
c Haste to help them, ere they die. ' 

Yes, reader, haste to help them. Confer not with 
flesh and blood. Meet all vain excuses with a deaf ear 
and a determined spirit. Let pity move you, the love 
of Christ constrain you, and a sense of responsibility 
urge you, to take that precious gospel on which your 
hopes rely, and to carry it, without delay, to the perish- 
ing nations. 

5 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE SAVIOUR'S laikST OOUAUB 
BISOBHITEIB. 

Let us suppose, that all kindreds and people of the 
earth are assembled, and that the inhabitants of Africa, 
Asia, the Isles of the Pacific and the wilds of America, 
are called upon to speak, and to give in their testimony. 
The inquiry is first put to Africa : 

c Africa, to what extent and for what purpose, have 
people from Christian lands visited thee, and thine adja- 
cent islands ? What have they carried to thy shores? 
And what is the treatment thou hast received from them? 
Tell the whole truth ; — let it be known to what extent 
the Savior's last command has been obeyed in respect 
to thee. ' 

To this inquiry Africa replies : 

i The truth I can tell, but the whole truth cannot be 
told. I have, indeed, been visited by people from Christ- 
ian lands. Thousands and hundreds of thousands from 
those lands have visited my shores. Some have come 
to measure the pyramids, and to gather relics of ancient 
literature and decayed magnificence ; some to search 
out the sources of the Nile and the course of the Niger; 
some to possess the best of the soil ; and a vast multi- 
tude have come, with a cruelty that knows no mercy, 
to tear the husband from his wife and the wife from her 
husband, parents from their children and children from 
their parents, brother from sister and sister from brother; 
— to crowd them together without distinction of age or 
sex in the suffocating holds of their ships, where a large 
proportion of ihern die, and to convey the remainder 



THE SAVIOUR T S LAST COMMAND DISOBEYED. 



51 



far away to spend their lives in degrading servitude. 
Thousands of ships from Christian lands have visited my 
shores for this purpose and many do still. They have 
brought heads and trinkets, — they have brought in- 
struments of death, such as muskets, powder, knives 
and swords, — and they have brought, too, full cargoes 
of L I Q U I D POISON. The navies of Christian 
lands have fought in my harbors, and their armies upon 
my shores. Their money by millions has been lavished, 
and their blood has run in torrents. 

A few individuals however, of a different character 
have found their way hither. They have come in the 
spirit of benevolence and of peace, and have brought in 
their hands the precious treasure of the gospel of Christ. 
But, their number is so small as to be almost lost among 
the multitude. For one who has taught righteousness, 
purity, truth and mercy, thousands have taught by their 
example, rapacity, drunkenness, lewdness and cruelty. 
For one who has led us in the path of life, thousands 
have led us in the paths of destruction. For one who 
has brought the Bible, thousands have brought rum. 
For one whose example has been salutary, the inter- 
course of thousands has left a loathsome disease, which 
with sure and rapid progress is depopulating the land. 
Such is the sum of my testimony. Days and nights 
would be required to give the detail. ' 

This testimony of Africa being finished, the same in- 
quiry is put to Asia : 

c Asia, to what extent have the nations of Christen- 
dom visited thee and thy numerous islands ? What 
have they earried to thy shores ? and what has been 
their deportment toward thee ? ' 
To which Asia replies : 

£ The vast number, either of men or of ships, from 
Christian lands, that have visited my shores, cannot bo 
told. I know full; well the enterprise, the energy and 
the perseverance of Christian lands ; yes, verily, and 
traits too of less honorable name. Large portions of 
my territory acknowledge tke control of their armies. 



52 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



Their thundering navies lie in my harbors and sail along 
my . coasts. Ships without number, — mighty ships, 
too, whose masts pierce the clouds, have come for my 
teas, my crapes, my silks, my spices and other precious 
merchandise. Their consuls, superintendents, officers 
of various kinds, and merchants in great numbers, dwell 
in almost every port, and have erected in those ports 
stores, shops, offices and sumptuous dwellings. Many 
things pleasant and useful have been brought hither, 
but, many things also that are ruinous ; - — full cargoes 
of ardent spirits; and immense quantities of opium, too, 
a means of destruction no less sure. 

Among the multitudes who have come to my shores, 
some few, indeed, have brought the Gospel of Christ, 
made known its truths and exemplified its spirit, but, 
the thousands and tens of thousands have inculcated by 
their example, worldliness, drunkenness, lewdness, war, 
violence and treachery. If needful, a volume of details 
might be given, but, this is the sum. ' 

Next, the inquiry is put to the Isles of the Ocean : 

'Great Pacific, to what extent has the last command 
of Christ been obeyed by christian lands, in respect to 
thy numerous islands. ' 

The reply is as follows : 

' Thousands of ships from Christian lands continually 
cruise upon my wide waters, and visit my numerous 
groups of islands. They have exchanged with my ig- 
norant and destitute inhabitants, beads, trinkets and- a 
few inches of rusty iron hoop for the best produce of 
the islands. They have sold to them, guns, powder 
and rum. Many of their ships have been floating grog- 
shops — floating exhibitions too of Sodom and Gomor- 
rah. From some, on slight provocation, broadsides of 
cannon have been fired on my heedless inhabitants, 
strewing the deep with the dead and the dying. Rum 
and disease have been introduced. The one has slain 
its thousands and the other has slain, and is still slaying 
its tens of thousands. Many useful things indeed have 
been introduced, but, in connexion with a host of evils' 



THE SAVIOUR'S LAST COMMAND DISOBEYED. 



53 



A few individuals too, bearing the gospel of Jesus Christ, 
have visited some of my numerous islands ; but, what 
are they among the multitude ? ' 

After this testimony of the Isles of the Ocean, the in- 
quiry is last adressed to America : 

f America, what is thy testimony ? From Bhering's 
Straits to Cape Horn, what treatment have thy native 
inhabitants received from christian nations ? ' 
America replies : 

c Alas ! scarcely enough remain of my miserable in- 
habitants to return an answer. They have been swept 
away by the same causes which are now sweeping away 
the inhabitants of the Pacific. The rapacity of those 
called Christians, which has not scrupled at any means 
of conquest and extirpation, and the rum and diseases 
introduced, have laid my numerous population in the 
grave. Have I been visited by those who bear the 
Christian name? Yes, verily, they now possess the best 
portions of my territory and have grown into vast na- 
tions on my soil. Even my veriest wilds have been re- 
peatedly traversed by them in search of furs ; and the 
tracks they have made, been too often marked with 
drunkenness lewdness, and treachery. Few, very few in- 
deed of all that have come to this vast continent, have 
come to instruct my ignorant inhabitants in the pre- 
cious gospel of Jesus Christ, and lead them in the paths 
of righteousness and peace. Few who explore my wilds, 
explore them for this purpose. Alas ! a far different 
object prompts their ente prise, their energy and their 
perseverance. This is the sum of my testimony. ' 

Now, reader, let us look well at this testimony of 
Africa, of Asia, of the Isles of the Ocean and of Amer- 
ica. Is it not overwhelming ? Take the ' Encyclope- 
dia of Geography,' or ' M'c Culloch's Dictionary of 
Commerce,' or £ Howitt's Colonization and Christianity,' 
and carefully examine the facts. Are they not enough 
to strike us dumb ? To what a vast extent heathen na- 
tions have been visited by those who bear the christian 
name ! What obscure island or what obscure nook or 
5* 



54 



THOUGHTS ON MI 5 S ION 5 ; 



corner of the earth has not been visited ? What im- 
mense multitudes have gone forth ! And alas ! for 
what purposes! How few, how very few have gone forth 
to make known the gospel ! What a powerful motive 
among men is the love -of- earthly --gain, and how weak 
a motive is love to Christ 1 and regard to his last com- 
mand ! The command reads : '-Go ye- into all the 

WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO -EVERY CREATURE. ? 

Christian nations, ye have not failed in great multitudes 
to 4 go into all the world ' ; scarcely ha?e -ye failed 
to visit' 'every creature'; but for what purpose 
have ye gone forth ? Has it been mainly to make known 
the precious name of Jesus? Be entreated to look at 
the case as it is, for a day of impartial retribution is at 
hand. 

Many of you indeed, who go forth to heathen shores, 
do not profess to be the disciples of Jesus ; but, imagine 
not, that on that account, your guilt is diminished. Ye 
who reject the Savior and disobey his commands; — who 
throw away your own sou^s as worthless, and are reck- 
less of the souls of your felrow men, what can you say 
in the day of Christ's appearing? If ye had only des- 
troyed your own- souls, then your case would be more 
tolerable, but, since you withhold' from the millions of ig- 
norant heathen the knowledge of salvation, which has 
been imparted to you — not only refusing to enter the 
kingdom of heaven yourselves, but. denying the key to 
those who might be disposed to enter; — and not only 
do this, but in your intercourse with the heathen, which 
has been very abundant, confirm them in their evil 
practices by a pernicious example ; and hurry them by 
thousands to the grave by means of deadly poison and 
deadly disease, oh ! how will you endure the keen re- 
morse and fearful looking for of judgment, which may 
ore long overtake you? When the impartial Judge 
shall appear, and your eyes shall meet his eye, O ! then 
what agonies must rend your souls! 

But, some of you have the vows of God upon you. 
To such I would say; be entreated to look at the ease 



r 



THE SAVIOUR'S LAST COMMAND DISOBEYED. 55 

as it is. As ye have gone forth on voyages of just and 
honorable traffic, and on voyages of discovery, have you 
manifested in all the heathen ports where you touched, 
that to make known the Savior was the great and ab- 
sorbing desire*of your hearts ? Alas ! are there not 
some among you, who either as owners, masters or a~ 
gents, are connected with ships that sail from port on 
the Sabbath day, or do other unnecessary work on that 
day, and who thereby teach the heathen, wherever 
those ships go, to disobey God, when their gain or con- 
venience require it ? Are there not, also, somo among 
you, who in one way oranother are connected with ships 
whose outfits are wholly or in part, beads, trinkets, guns, 
powder, rum and opium ; and who thereby teach the 
heathen, injustice, cheating, drunkenness, lewdness- and 
recklessness of life? Why is it, that ye bear the name 
of the peaceful disciples -of the benevolent Jesus, whilst 
ye are concerned in scattering among the heathen, 
i fire brands, arrows and death ' — in teaching them 
every species of iniquity, and in rearing a wall of preju- 
dice strong and high to the progress of the gospel ? 

But, most of my readers stand pure from all this 
crime; and of such I simply inquire, with deep concern 
and affectionate earnestness, why, dear brethren, have 
ye not obeyed the Savior's last command ? Why 
have ye iwt made known the gospel of Christ to every 
creature ? Each one of you has doubtless some excuse 
at hand, or he could not escape the goadings of con- 
science. Let us then in the spirit of candor and hon- 
esty look at some excuses. 

Excuses of Christians for not doing more to 
evangelize the heathen. 

Perhaps some one may be inclined to say : 'the work 
enjoined by the Savior's last command is a very great 
work, and there has not been time enough to perform it.' 

True, I reply, the work is great, but, how does it 
appear that there has not been sufficient time to ac- 
complish it ? Not sufficient time ! What has been 



56 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



accomplished in the pursuit of wealth and honor, du- 
ring the same period of time ? What has been done at 
home in rail-roads, canals, steam-boats, manufactures, 
and in other departments of enterprise and industry ? 
What has been done abroad ? Lookat the testimony of 
Africa, Asia, the Isles of the Pacific and the wilds of 
America. There has been time to carry rum to every 
shore. There has been time to introduce diseases a- 
mong every barbarous people, which are hurrying them to 
the grave by thousands. There has been time to kid- 
nap thousands and hundreds of thousands of the de- 
graded Africans. There has been time to extirpate most 
of the native population of North and South America. 
There has been time to wage war, till the blood of hu- 
man beings has flowed in torrents. And, then, in re- 
gard to just and honorable traffic, compute, if human 
arithmetic be competent to the task, the amount of 
merchandize brought from India, and from other dis- 
tant lands. There has been time for all this. Now, I 
ask with great plainness, for it is a solemn and practical 
subject, had you exhibited the same enterprise, energy 
and perseverance in making known the gospel to all 
nations, ds has been exhibited in worldly pursuits, 
would not every human being, long ere this, have 
heard the word of life ? Will you not, Christian read- 
er, look at this question, weigh it well, and deal honestly 
with your own soul ? 

Here, I am suspicious, that some may be inclined to 
excuse themselves with a vague thought secretly enter- 
tained, which if expressed would be somewhat as fol- 
lows : 

' True, we have not exhibited as much zeal in teach- 
ing all nations as has been exhibited by the worldly, and 
by many of ourselves even, in the pursuit of wealth. 
But, we claim not the praise of a holy, self-denying and 
Apostolic life. We are content with an humble walk 
in the Christian course and a low seat in heaven. En- 
tire consecration, in the sense urged, is what we never 
professed. ' 



THE SAVIOUR'S LAST COMMAND DISOBEYED. 57 



Your standard, then, it appears, is very low, too low 
I fear to admit you e\en to that humble seat in the 
courts above which you anticipate. You claim not the 
praise of an Apostolic life, and I seriously fear that you 
will not obtain even the testimony of being a true christ- 
ian. But, how does it appear that you never professed 
an entire consecration to Christ, of all your powers of 
body and soul-? It is true, the conduct of some of 
your number would seem to say, that you put on a form 
of religion to silence your fears, to cheat yourselves with 
a delusive hope, and to enjoy a comfortable state of mind 
on earth • but, what, really are the vows that rest upon 
you? what else than to seek by prayer and effort; as your 
supreme aim, chief desire and all engrossing object, the 
promotion of Christ's kingdom — the salvation of souls 
for whom he died ? 

Besides, what is the great purpose for which the 
church was instituted ? Certainly not to promote in its 
members a delusive comfort and quietude of mind; nei- 
ther mainly or chiefly to secure their own ultimate sal- 
vation ; but, to take advantage of union of strength 
to convert the world. The church — the whole church 
without the exception of any of its members, is by pro- 
fession — not merely a missionary society — but, a 
missionary band — the minute men of the Lord Jesus, 
ready to do his will, ,at home or abroad, with singleness 
of aim and with a spirit of entire devotion. 

'But,' you say, ' were we thtis to live, the world 
would verily believe we weie deranged. ' 

Deranged I it would be the right kind of derange- 
ment. Were not the Apostles thought tobe deranged? 
And the Reformers ; Luther, Melancthon, Calvin, 
Knox and others ; were not they thought to be enthu- 
siasts and zealots? Why ? Because they were some- 
what in earnest in the cause of Christ. Worldly men 
toil and strive night and day in collecting together a 
little of the pelf and dust of 'the earth, and think them- 
selves wise in doing so ; but', if the disciples of Christ 
show zeal or earnestness, in pursuits as much higher 



58 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



than their's, as heaven is higher than the earth, and as 
much more important, as the immortal soul is more val- 
uable than corruption, vanity, earth and worms, they 
call them at once enthusiasms and fanatics! But, 
alas! how few of us who profess to -be the disci- 
ples of Christ, have manifested such zeal in his service 
as to be called by such epithets ! How few of us have 
reaped such substantial honor! For such persons alone 
God calls wise ; and these worldly men who are mad 
in the pursuit of wealth, God calls ' fools. ' The wis- 
dom of God and the wisdom of the world are utterly at 
variance. O, that ail who profess to love Christ, man- 
ifested such zeal in obeying him as to be called strange 
and singular men ! How soon then, would every human 
being hear his gospel ! But, since such zeal is not 
manifested, the heathen are left to perish, and where, I 
ask affectionately and solemnly, where rests the guilt? 

Bu;t, here it may perhaps be replied i * Our sin is a 
sin of ignorance. We have not been acquainted with 
the full import of the Savior's last command, nor with 
the extent of our obligations to Christ. Neither have 
we been acquainted with the wretched and guilty con- 
dition of the heathen world, nor with the exertions 
necessary to turn it from darkness to light — from the 
power of Satan unto God. God will wink at our sin 
if we be indeed guilty, for we have not been eiighten- 
ed on this subject. ' 

I answer ; does ignorance of the laws of any nation 
excuse those who transgress those laws ; or, is it con- 
sidered the duty of all subjects to inform themselves in 
respect to the laws of their country? And should it 
not be so with the kingdom of Christ ? The require- 
ments of Christ in their full extent are contained in the 
New Testament, and are expressed in language that 
needs not be misunderstood. If any one has mistaken, 
their import, is it not on account of a self-seeking, money 
getting or slothful disposition ? Let such a one search 
his own heart, and inquire with concern, 'Did I desire 
to know my duty ? W as not my blindness a matter of 



THE SAVIOUR'S LAST COMMAND DISOBEYED. 59 



choice ; no infirmity, no misfortune, but my guilt? If 
there had been a desire; nay, even a willingness to be 
instructed, could I have mistaken such plain and une- 
quivocal precepts of the gospel ? ' 

The condition, too, of the heathen, their guilty and 
wretched condition is fully made known in the New 
Testament, especially in the first chapter of Paul's let- 
ter to the Romans. Besides, accounts of their guilt 
and wretchedness have been presented before the 
christian community in Heralds, Chronicles, Reports 
and Newspapers, till they have become too familiar to 
make an impression, Can ignorance at this day, in 
1844, be any other than a criminal ignorance — an ig- 
norance of fearful responsibility? 

And, I ask again, can it be any excuse to many 
christians that they are laymen and not preachers of the 
gospel ? Can they make it appear that many of their 
number were not called to the office of preaching the 
gospel ? Did they take the proper means to ascertain 
that point ? How, I anxiously inquire, did such persons 
determine so readily, when a world was sinking to per- 
dition for want of preachers of the gospel, that they 
were called to be lawyers, physicians, statesmen, mer- 
chant, farmers, and manufacturers ? Can it be fairly 
shown that hundreds of laymen have not rejected an 
office to which they were called — solemnly called 
by the woes and dying groans of 600,000,000 of their 
fellow men ? Is there not reason to fear, that it was 
from a carnal choice and selfish inclination, rather than 
a sense of duty, that so great a majority slid so easily 
into their present occupations. 

Besides, how does it appear that only preachers of 
the Gospel are required to labor directly for the desti- 
tute at home and to go forth to the heathen abroad ? 
It was far otherwise in the days of the Apostles. Then 
the whole church, (driven out, indeed, by persecution,) 
went every where making known the Savior. And at 
the present hour, not only are ministers needed in prop- 
agating the gospel in destitute places at home, and in 



60 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



raising up heathen nations from their deep degradation, 
but, there are needed also, in their appropriate' spheres, 
teachers in great numbers, physicians, mechanics, farm- 
ers — in short, men of every useful profession and em- 
ployment* 

Besides, much is to be done at home in sustaining 
those who go abroad. Has there been no lack in this 
part of the work ? Alas ! there are facts to meet such 
an enquiry — facts too well known to be named — dis- 
banded schools, detained missionaries, and deserted 
Monthly Concerts — facts that stand registered on a 
book that shall hereafter be opened. Dear Brethren, I 
speak earnestly and boldly of your obligations, not for- 
getting my own, and I would entreat you by all that is 
affecting in the death of souls, and by all that is con- 
straining in the love of Christ, to admit freely to your 
hearts, without subterfuge or excuse, the full im- 
port of the Savior's last command, and to commence 
at once a life of sincere obedience. O let us deal hon- 
estly with ourselves, in a matter of such immense mo- 
ment. 



CHAPTER "V. 



laymen galled to the held ot 
i&issions. 

In Acts 8:4, it is said, Therefore they, that were 
scattered abroad, went every where .preaching the 
word. And, from the previous verses it seems, that 
these persons, who were scattered abroad, were lay 
members of the church. The history is instructive. 

After the day of Pentecost, the number of converts 
to Christianity, amounted to several thousands. They 
were Jews, and had strong feelings of attachment to the 
city of Jerusalem, to the Temple, and to the land 
of their Fathers. They, therefore, clung to Jerusalem, 
and seemed inclined to remain together as one large 
church. But, it -was the design of the Lord Jesus, 
that the Gospel should be preached every where. Such 
was his last and most solemn command. As, therefore, 
the disciples -seemed in a measure unmindful of this 
command, the Savior permitted a persecution to rage, 
which scattered them abroad, and compelled them to 
go every where preaching the word. The term preach- 
ing, in this place, means simply announcing or making 
known the news of salvation. This must be the mean- 
ing, for they that were scattered abroad were laymet?. 
As they went they told every where of Jesus Chiist, 
and of the life and immortality, which he had brought 
to light. This subject engrossed their thoughts — their 
hearts were full of it, and out of the abundance of their 
hearts, their mouths spake. It is clear from this histo- 
ry, that in early times, lay members of the church, in 
great numbers^ were compelled, in the Providence of 
God, to go forth and engage personally in the work of 
j6 



62 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



propagating the Gospel. And the more closely we look 
at the history, the more we shall be impressed with this 
fact. 

Notice the time chosen by God for the first remark- 
able outpouring of his Holy Spirit. It was on the day 
of Pentecost, when multitudes were present not only 
from all parts of Palestine, but, from all the surround- 
ing nations. There were present, * Parthians and 
Medes and Elamites and the dwellers in Mesopotamia 
and in Judea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia, 
Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Ly- 
bia about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and pros- 
elytes, Cretes and Arabians.' Upon this multitude, 
assembled from all the nations round about, the Holy 
Ghost was poured out with such power, that three 
thousand souls were converted in one day ; and on 
succeeding days many were added to the church. Ma- 
ny of these converts would naturally return to the dif- 
ferent nations and places from which they came, and 
make known the Saviour far and wide. It was by the 
return of these converts to their places of residence, 
that the gospel was early introduced into many places 
quite remote from Jerusalem, among which may be rec- 
oned, in all probability, the distant city of Rome. The 
first propagation of the gospel in that metropolis of the 
world, can be traced to no other source with so much 
probability, as to the strangers from Rome who were 
present at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. It is 
evident, therefore, that in the time chosen by God for 
this remarkable out-pouring of his Spirit, he had an 
eye to an extensive and rapid propagation of the Gos- 
pel by lay members of the church. 

Again, as hinted before, when the great body of the 
first converts chose to remain at Jerusalem, God saw 
best to drive them thence by persecution. This per- 
secution began with the stoning of Stephen, and raged 
with such violence, that it is said, that all the church at 
Jerusalem were scattered abroad, except the Apostles. 
They weie not only a few individuals who were driven 



LAYMEN CALLED TO THE FIELD OF MISSIONS. 63 



out, but, so many as to justify the expression "all the 
church. " By thus dispersing the great body of the 
church, the Savior propagated rapidly and extensively 
his precious gospel. For this multitude of lay mem- 
bars, (and there were several thousands of them,) 
went every where preaching the word — announcing in 
all places, in a way appropriate to their station, the 
news of salvation through a crucified Redeemer. They 
propagated the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria ; 
and some of them traveled as far as Phenice and Cy- 
prus, and laid the foundation of the church at Antioch. 
It was not till the Apostles had heard of the success of 
these lay-members at iVntioch, that they sent thither 
Barnabas to help in the work. It appears, then, that 
the rapid and extensive propagation of the gospel in 
early times, ivas accomplished in a great measure by 
the spreading abroad of the great body of the church 
— by an actual going forth and personal engagement 
of a great multitude of lay members. 

Again, the treasurer of Candace queen of Ethiopia, 
seems to have been converted on his return home, not 
simply out of regard to his own personal salvation, but 
as a means of making known the gospel in the distant 
place of his residence, for soon after, we find in that re- 
gion a flourishing church of Christ. 

Again, look at the example of Aquila and Priscilla 
who labored zealously at Corinth and at Ephesus. Look, 
too, at the whole list of Paul's fellow travellers, and 
those whom he salutes in his letters as helpers in the 
gospel. 

From all these facts it is evident, that in early times, 
God made use of common christians in propagating the 
gospel. Did he not so overrule events in his Providence 
as to show it to be his design, that lay members of the 
church should go forth in great numbers and engage 
personally, in ways apropriate and proper for them, 
in the work of making known Christ ? We have then* 
the force of primitive example — of primitive example, 
too, brought about by the manifest overrulings of God's 



64 , THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS! 

Providence. This example is not equivalent, indeed, to a 
' Thus saith the Lord ' ; yet, doe3 it not strongly favor 
the sentiment, that lay members of the church in 
great numbers are called to go forth and as- 
sist in evangelizing the heathen. 

More need now, than in early days, of a variety 
of laborers in the missionary field. 

In early days, the missionary field, in many respects, 
was far different from what it is now. Almost the whole 
known world was embraced within the Roman Empire, 
and throughout that Empire the arts of civilization were 
very generally diffused. And in those parts of the em- 
pire where the Apostle Paul labored most, in Asia Mi- 
nor and in Greece, the arts had been brought to a high 
state of cultivation. Much attention, too, was given to 
mental improvement and the acquisition of knowledge. 
Schools were numerous, and not a few were of a high 
order. 

The state of the heathen is far iv orse now than it was 
then. Heathen society, like a sinking weight, has con' 
tinned to descend, till it has arrived at a depth of degra- 
dation almost inconceivable. All mental light has gone 
out, and mental strength, too, staggers from long ener- 
vation. In many a heathen nation now, any thing like 
a school is lost, even from tradition, and no term re- 
mriins in their language to express the th : ng. All no- 
tions of good government have long since been forgot- 
ten ; and nothing is seen but a slavish subjection to an 
iron-hearted despotism. The family constitution is in 
ruins — a perfect chaos. The arts of civilization, too, 
ha.ve been buried, deeply buried and irrecoverably lost 
in the rubb'sh of things gone by. There is an immense 
chasm and hideous blank in heathen society. One in- 
sensibly shrinks back and shudders at the thought of it. 
Heathen society is emphatically a scene of dark and 
dreary desolation. Order and light are no more. Chaos 
and darkness brood over the wreck of all that can ele- 
vate and improve, mankind* 



LAYMEN CALLED TO THE FIELD OF MISSIONS. 65 



Such being the present state of heathen society, there 
isa great work, of course, for lay members of the church 
— a work for which comparatively there was but little 
need in? the days of the Apostles. Then, comparative- 
ly little \vas to be done but to make known the Savior. 
And yet, even at that period, God made great use, as 
we have seen, of lay members of the church. Much 
more are laymen needed at the present time. The call 
for them now is stronger, and more urgent. Men are 
needed of every useful profession and employment to 
assist in the work — to lift at various points in the stu- 
pendous effort of elevating barbarous nations. - 

To ELEVATE ALL NATIONS REQUIRES A GREAT VA- 
RIETY OF LABORERS. 

In illustrating this proposition, I cannot expect to 
present it before you with any thing like the clearness 
and force whieh-are due to it. To appreciate fully its 
truth and its weighty import, it is necessary to live in 
the midst of a heathen people, and actually to witness 
the great variety and amount of labor, which must be 
put forth, in order to elevate and improve them. The 
work of raising up a people from barbarism to Chris- 
tianity is not only an immense work, but, emphatically a 
various work — a work which requires-a great diversi- 
ty both of means and of laborers. The minister of the 
gospel must perform a prominent part; but, he must not 
be expected to labor alone. His unaided efforts are al- 
together insufficient for the task. 

There is special needof other laborers, since the num- 
ber of ministers among the heathen is likely to be so 
small ; but, the need would exist, even though the num- 
ber of ministers were very much increased. The in- 
crease of preachers to thousands, without the addition 
of other laborers-would not w arrant the expectation of 
speedily transforming the heathen character, mind, hab- 
its and society ", and of raising them from their low deg- 
radation, so as to be worthy of the name of civilized and 
christian natrons. Labors analagcus, both in respect to - 
6* 



66 



THOUGHTS? ON* ffiSSl&ttS- 



measure and variety, to those bestowed upon a chris- 
tian congregation, must be expended on a congregation 
of heathen. In christian countries, a thousand impor- 
tant labors are performed by intelligent and praying 
men and women in the church, as direct aid to the min- 
ister in his arduous work ; and a thousand offices are 
performed by school masters, physicians, lawyers, mer- 
chants, farmers, mechanics and artizans, which, though 
in most cases not aimed directly at the salvation of men ,. | 
are, notwithstanding, most intimately connected with 
the world's improvement and renovation. But, while 
ministers at home are assisted in their work, shall the 
missionary abroad receive little or no help in his direct j 
labors ? And, in respect to all improvements in society j 
indirectly connected with his main work, must the task 
of introducing them and of urging them on, devolve en- 
tirely on him alone ? Why should not the various 
means of civilizing and improving society at home, be 
brought to exert their influence upon the heathen a- 
broad ? Why should not the aid enjoyed by the minis- 
ter in christian lands, from intelligent members of his 
church, be afforded to the missionary among the hea- 
then ? How, indeed, shall the world be converted, un- 
less there be a general going forth to heathen lands from 
among all classes of Christians ? 

But I fear that these remarks are too general to be 
distinctly understood. To make my meaning, then, a 
little more clear, I will suppose a case. 

A missionary goes forth to a barbarous nation, and 
locates himself in a village of 4,000 souls. He learns 
the language of the people, and soon succeeds in giving 
them a superfi cial knowledge of the great truths of the 
gospel. God blesses his labors. The people throw a- 
way their idols ; — - many sincerely embrace the Lord 
Jesus ; and the community at large acknowledge Chris- 
tianity as the religion of the land. 

Now, a superficial thinker might imagine, that the 
work of elevating the people was almost done, but, in 
truth it is but just commenced. The missionary looks 



LAYMEN CALLED' TO THE FIELD OF MISSIONS. 6? 



upon his people, and wishes them not only to be christ- 
ians in name, but, to exhibit 5 also intelligence and good 
order, purity and loveliness, industry and enterprise; — 
in a word, a deportment in all respects consistent with 
the true religion of Jesus. But what is their state ? 
The government is despotic and all the principles of its 
administration are utterly at variance with Scripture and 
reason. This takes away all motives to industry and 
thrift. Then again the people are ignorant, — have no 
mental discipline, — no store of useful knowledge; but, 
their minds are marked with torpor, imbecility and pov- 
erty of thought ; whilst at the same time, they are full 
of groveling ideas, false opinions and superstitious no- 
tions, imbibed in childhood and confirmed by sge. The 
children, too, are growing up in ignorance of all that is 
useful and praise-worthy. Entirely uninstructed and 
ungoverned by their parents, ihey range at large like 
the wild goats of the field. The people know not the 
simple business of making cloth, of working iron, or of 
framing wood ; and have but a very imperfect knowl- 
of agriculture. 

Of course, men, women and children are alrnost 
houseless and naked, — destitu te of every thing but the 
rudest structures, the rudest fabrications, and the ru- 
dest tools and implements of husdandry. A large fam- 
ily herd together, of all ages and both sexes, in one lit- 
tle hut, sleep on one mat, and eat from one dish. From 
irregularity of habits and frequent exposure, they are 
often sick; and with the aid of a superstitious quackery, 
sink rapidly and in great numbers to the grave. 

The missionary looks upon his 4,000 villagers, though 
nominally christian perhaps, yet still, in this state of des- 
titution, degradation and ignorance. He sees, that 
to elevate th:m, requires the labors not only of a preach- 
er of the gospel, but the labors of the civilian, the phy- 
sician, the teacher, the agriculturist, the munufacturer, 
the mechanic and the artist. Can all these profess- 
ions and employments be united in one man ? Can 
one missionary sustain all this variety of labor ? Yet all 



63 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



these departments of labor are absolutely indispensible 
to the improvement and elevation of society. They are 
necessary in a land already christian. Still more in- 
dispensible are they in the work of- raising up a people 
from barbarism. 

A great number of teachersmre needed. To raise a 
people from barbarism? the simple but efficient means 
of common schools must be every where diffused ; and 
higher schools, too, must be established and vigorously 
conducted: To teach the hundreds of millions of adult 
heathen in week day schools and in Sabbath schools,, 
and' more especially, to instuct and train the hundreds- 
of millions of heathen children and youth cannot be done 
by a few hands. We forbear to make a numerical es- 
timate. Any one may estimate for himself. The num- 
ber must be very great, even though we look upon them, 
rather as a commencing capital than as an adequate sup- 
ply, and expect that by far the greater part of laborers 
are to be trained up from among the heathen them- 
selves. There is no avoiding the necessity, that men 
should go forth in great: numbers to manage and in- 
struct schools. It is preposterous to think of imposing 
all this labor on a few ministers of the gospel. 

Physicians are needed in great numbers. They are 
needed to benefit the bodies of the heathen; for dis- 
ease the fruit of sin, is depopulating with amazing speed 
a large portion of the heathen world. The nations, 
many of them at least, are melting away. Let physi- 
cians go forth, and whilst they seek to stay the tide of 
desolation which is sweeping away the bodies of the 
heathen, let them improve the numerous and very fa- 
vorable opportunities afforded them of benefiting their 
souls. The benevolent, sympathizing and compassion- 
ate spirit of Christ led him to relieve the temporal suf- 
ferings of men whilst hrs main aim was to secure their 
eternal salvation. Unless we show, by our exertions, 
a desire to mitigate the present woes and miseries of 
men, how shall we convince them, that we ttxxiy seek 
their eternal welfare. Physicians must throw their skill 



LAYMEN CALLED TO THE FIELD OF MISSIONS. 6$ 



in the healing art at the feet of the Savior, and be rea- 
dy to use it when and where he shall direct. The num- 
ber who should go to the heathen cannot, and need not, 
be named. It is sufficient to say, that one pious physi- 
cian at least could be advantageously useful, and fully 
employed in every congregation of heathen. 

It is unnecessary to remark that printers, book-bind- 
ers and book-distributors are needed in great numbers , 
to carry on the work of the world's conversion. 

Civilians, too, are needed, — men skilled in laying 
the foundation of nations and guiding their political e- 
conomy. Should such men go forth, and evince by a 
prayerful, godly and disinterested deportment and 
course of procedure, that their sole aim was to promote 
the happiness of the people, beth temporal and eternal 
there are many barbarous countries where they would 
readily acquire much influence, and be able in a gradual 
manner by friendly and prudent suggestions to the ru- 
lers, and in other ways, to effect changes that would be 
productive of incalculable good. Many changes, with 
pains taking and care, could be made to appear to the 
rulers, to be really for their interest, as well as for the 
interest of the people; and more light and knowledge, 
without the intervention of any new motive, would soon 
bring them to pass. A few years since, the King and 
chiefs of the Sandwich Islands sent a united appeal to 
the United States for such an instructor to guide thern 
in the government of their kingdom, and offered him a 
competent support. While the nation had improved in 
religion -and morals, the government had remained much 
as it was — keeping the people in the condition of serfs. 
The system was wrong throughout — of the very worst 
kind, both for the interests of the rulers and of the sub- 
jects. The chiefs b?gin to see this and asked for an. 
instructor. Such an instructor was not obtained, and 
one of the missionaries was constrained by the urgent 
necessity to leave the sevice of the Beard and to be- 
come a political teacher to the king and chiefs. His ef- 
forts have been crowned with great success.. 



70 



THOUGHTS ON MISSION. 



Civilians might do good also, not only in the way of 
their profession, but, by a christian example, and by in- 
structing the people, as opportunity. should offer, in the 
knowledge of Christ. 

Commercial men, also, actuated by the same benev- 
olent and disinterested spirit, might develope the re- 
cources of heathen lands, and apply them in a wise man- 
ner for the benefit of those lands ; promote industry, 
and afford the means of civilized habits; increase know- 
ledge, by expediting communication ; and in this way, 
indirectly, though efficiently, aid the progress of the 
gospel. By exhibiting also, in their dealings, an example 
of honesty, uprightness, of a conscientious regard to jus- 
tice and truth ; by showing practically the only proper 
use of wealth ; the good of men and the glory of God ; 
by conversing daily with individuals, as did Harlan Page 
and Normand Smith, at their houses, and by the way 
side, on the great subject of the soul's salvation ; and 
by presenting in themselves and in their families, exam- 
ples of a prayerful and godly life, they might exert a 
powerful influence and perform a very important part in 
Christianizing the world. 

There is also much need of farmers, mechanics, man- 
ufacturers and artizans. They should go forth like o- 
ther laborers in the field not ivith the selfish design of 
enriching themselves, but with the disinterested inten- 
tion of benefiting the nations. Private gain, must be 
kept strictly, carefully and absolutely subordinate, or 
immense evil will be wrought and no good be done. 
They should be men who cheerfully throw themselves 
and their property on the altar of entire consecration, 
and go forth to labor and toil so long as the Savior plea- 
ses to employ them with the lofty design of doing good 
to the bodies and souls of their perishing fellow men. 
Going forth with such a spirit, and with emphasis, I re- 
peat, allowing no other to intrude, they could do much 
in raising up the nations from their deep degradation. 
In the first place, they could do much good by commu- 
nicating a knowledge of their several employments. 



LAYMEN CALLED TO THE FIELD OF MISSIONS. 71 

Not only is a reform in government necessary, but an 
introduction of the useful arts, also, to raise up the peo- 
ple from their indolence and filthy habits, and to pro- 
mote thrift, order, neatness, and consitency. Look, at a 
heathen family as before described. They are almost 
naked — have a mere apology for clothing. They herd 
together in one little hut without table or chairs, gath- 
er around one calabash, eat with their fingers and sleep 
on one mat. How can you expect from them refinement 
or elevation of soul ? How can you expect from them 
the proprieties and consistencies of a christian life ? E- 
ven though they may attend the sanctuary and be in- 
structed in schools; and even though the government 
be reformed and hold out motives to industry ; yet will 
not something else be wanting ? Unless the various 
useful arts and occupations be introduced, how is the 
land to be filled with fruitful fields, pleasant dwellings 
and neatly clad inhabitants ? And to introduce these 
improvements, men must go forth for the purpose. 
Such men, too, might do good, by exhibiting, in them- 
selves and in their families, habits of industry, domestic 
peace and strict economy ; by holding up the hands of 
Christ's ministers, and by scattering the word of life in 
their appropriate spheres. 

Feasibility. 

It remains, only, to add, that laymen of every useful 
occupation are not only needed in heathen lands, but, 
that the plan of their going forth is altogether feasible. 
This is by no means the opinion of one alone. In look- 
ing over the periodicals and papers of the last few years, 
I find that such is the sober and deliberate opinion of 
many foreign laborers. I find urgent appeals for such 
helpers from at least five important missionary fields. 
Would such appeals be made if the enterprise were not 
a feasible one ? 

Look too at the fact, that there is scarcely a nation 
on the globe, where men do not go and permanently 
reside for the purpose of making money. It is abso- 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



lutely amazing to what an extent this is the truth. Why 
then, cannot men go forth, and whilst they obtain a live- 
lihood, make it their ultimate and chief aim to do good ? 

But, the inquiry arises, in what way should laymen 
go forth. It may not be desirable, that they should go 
forth, to any great extent, under the care of Missionary 
Boards at present existing, lest the objects of those 
Boards should become too numerous and complicated. 
And it may not perhaps be desirable or necessary to 
have any other organization for the purpose. I am not 
wise enough to give an opinion, but would suggest, that 
men of some pecuniary means, take those means and 
emigrate to heathen lands, just as some good men have 
gone to the far West. May there not also be small 
combinations of men not to help others, but, each other 
into the field, just as there is in worldly enterprise. 
When once established in the field it is supposed, that 
their trades and occupations will afford them, with trials, 
hardships, and reverses, an adequate subsistence, and 
open before them a wide door of usefulness. 

Some have suggested that ministers of the gospel 
should go forth and sustain themselves abroad. That 
is a far different question. If ministers of the gospel 
ought not to sustain themselves in christian countries 
by laboring with their hands, still less should they at- 
tempt such a course in foreign fields. They have other 
work to do.; — enough to occupy all their time. 

But, for laymen to go forth and sustain themselves 
in this way, is it not both proper and appropriate ? and 
and have not such enterprises to some extent been al- 
ready entered upon with success? Different fields, of 
course, present greater or less obstacles, but, what un- 
dertaking is without its difficulties? Perplexities, embar- 
rassments and sufferings woufd be a matter of course, 
but, no greater and perhaps far less, than those christians 
endured, who being scattered abroad from their belov- 
ed Jerusalem, went every where preaching the word. 

It may pehaps be objected, that should many from all 
classes of christians thus go forth, to live and labor a- 



LAYMEN CALLED TO THE FIELD OF MISSIONS. ^3 

broad, they would soon possess the land, whilst the hea- 
then would melt away before them. Let us look at this 
point. And, first, where is the evidence of such a result? 
When and where has the experiment been tried to jus- 
tify such a supposition ? When and where have indi- 
viduals or companies gone forth with the sole design of 
benefiting the heathen, and yet proved their extermina- 
tion? The settlers of New England are not an example 
in point, for the improvement and salvation of the hea- 
then was not their main aim. It was indeed an idea in 
mind, but, not fully and prominently carried out. It is 
yet to be proved, that a company of persons, however 
numerous, of disinterested views, aiming solely to save 
the nations, and directing all their energies of body and 
of mind to that end, would prove the extermination of 
the heathen, instead of their salvation. Neither can it be 
presumed, that the descendants of such persons, train- 
ed, as ought to be supposed, with faith and prayer, 
would possess a spirit so selfish and different from that 
of their fathers, as to prove the extermination of the 
heathen. And if such is the necessary event, what is 
the conclusion at which we must arrive ? It seems cer- 
tain, that a mere handful of missionaries cannot put 
forth the instrumentality which, according to God's usu- 
al providence, is necessary to save them — that a great 
number and variety of laborers are needed to do the 
work. Let us be slow, therefore, to trust in the objec- 
tion, for, if it must be admitted, the lawful inference will 
not necessarily be, that christians of all classes and in 
great numbers should not go forth to the heathen ; but 
the inquiry will arise, whether heathen nations as nations 
must not cease to exist, and remnants of them only be 
saved — a painful and dread alternative, from which 
every benevolent heart must instinctively recoil. 

Other reasons why laymen should engage in the 
work of missions. 

The work of the world's conversion is too great, too 
momentous and too pressing to admit of exemption 
7 



74 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



simply on the ground of profession or employment. 
When the liberties of a people are at stake, how few are 
excused from the field of battle ? But now, the ques- 
tion is not one of temporal liberty ; the point is to be 
decided, whether 600,000,000 of the human race shall 
be added to the company of the redeemed on high, or 
sink to the untold agonies of the world of wo. As things 
now are, 20 millions a year plunge into the burning lake. 
In this unparalleled emergency, when the question is 
poised, whether the destiny of a world shall be heaven 
or hell/ who can be excused on so slight a ground as that 
of profession or employment ? A few ministers cannot 
do the work. It is too great. Nothing can be more 
visionary than the notion, that a speedy and complete 
triumph might be effected by a few missionaries of the 
right stamp, going through the length and breadth of 
Satan's extensive and dark empire, and sounding as they 
go the trumpet of the gospel, around his strong fortifi- 
cations and deep intrenchments. Such a sentiment 
places an immeasurable disparity between the means 
and the end. It supposes it to be so easy to effect a 
transformation of heathen society, heathen habits, heath- 
en mind, and heathen character, and to raise them up 
from a degradation many ages deep, that a few sounds 
only from the herald of salvation, as he passes on his way, 
is sufficient to effect it. To term such a sentiment vis- 
ionary is saying too little — it seems like the wildness 
of mental derangement. £ Leviathan is not thus tamed.' 
The prince of the powei of the air is not thus vanquish- 
ed. Such a mode of converting the world will leave the 
heathen to perish— will put off the millenium to an in- 
definite period. 

Neither can the work be effected by a small number 
of preachers stationed at different posts, in the midst of 
the wide domains of darkness and death. Like specks 
of light, few and far between, how can they illumine the 
broad canopy of darkness ? To commit the work of the 
worlds conversion to a few missionaries, is, in effect, to 
consign the heathen to eternal perdition. A large com- 



LAYMEN CALLED TO THE FIELD OF MISSIONS. 75 

pany of preachers must go forth, and a large company 
too of other laborers. There must be among the whole 
body of Christians, not only an interest in the work, but, 
to a greater extent, than is imagined, a personal enlist- 
ment — an actual going forth to foreign lands. 

Again, laymen must go abroad, for no less a move- 
ment than this will convince them, that the work of sa- 
ving the heathen presses upon them individually and 
with all its weight and responsibility. Mere giving 
does not seem to answer the purpose. Very few lay- 
men at home seem to imagine that they individually are 
as responsible for the life and death of the heathen, as 
the laborers abroad. Many seem to act only as they 
are acted upon. This passive state will not answer. 
There must be a more general feeling of personal re- 
sponsibility. And how is such a feeling of equal and in- 
dividual responsibility to be induced, till laymen in great 
numbers begin to go abroad ? Till then, there will be 
a spirit of luxury in the church, a spirit of worldly-mind- 
ed ness and a spirit of committing the world's conver- 
sion to other hands. To destroy this spirit which is evi- 
dently eating out the piety of the churches, laymen must 
be urged to arise, to break off their luxuries, to bury 
their covetousness — to make an entire devotement of 
body, soul and spirit to the direct and arduous work of 
saving the heathen. 

Once, I remember, after urging laymen to go forth 
and to assist in evangelizing the heathen, a father in the 
church said to me : " Your reasons are just and weighty, 
but it is of no use to present Them before the churches 

— they have not piety enough to act upon them. If 
you can clearly show, that men can accumulate wealth 

— that they can really make fortunes, by going to hea- 
then lands, then your appeals will succeed. Bring this 
selfish principle to operate, and colonies will quickly 
scatter over the world. But to go forth with a spirit of 
self-denial, running the risk of many trials and straiten- 
ed circumstances, and with merely the prospect at best 
of obtaining a comfortable livelihood and doing good, is 



76 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS* 



a measure not at all adapted to the present standard of 
piety in the churches. Until the spirit of devoted ness 
shall rise many degrees in the churches, the course you 
urge will be looked upon as entirely visionary." 

Alas ! can the church be so low in grace ? If it be 
a fact, O, how painful and humiliating ! And, if it be 
true, then the church is lacking in the most essential 
qualification required of it — is unfitted for the main 
design of its organization ; — and is there not reason to 
fear, that God may cast it away, as he has done to the 
Roman church, and raise up another after his oivn 
heart that shall do all his pleasure ? Christian reader, 
can you calmly entertain the thought of being set aside 
by the Lord as unworthy of his employment — of being 
rejected on the ground of not fulfilling the purpose for 
which you were called ? 



\ 



CHAPTER VI. 



ai^M.im. of missions on mxnistsbs 

©if INPLUENOE. 

In early days, ministers of the greatest influence were 
called to the work of missions. To prove this assertion, 
let us read the 1st verse of the 13th chapter of th Acts 
of the Apostles. "Now there were in the church, that 
was at Antioch, certain prophets and teachers ; as 
Barnabas and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lu- 
cius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought 
up with Herod the tetrach ; and Said. As they min- 
istered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, 
Separate me Barnabas and Saul to the work ivhere- 
unto I have called them. Paul had been at Antioch a 
whole year, and Barnabas a still longer time. Their 
labors there had been very much blessed. The word 
had been attended with the demonstration of the Spir- 
it and with power, and many people had turned to the 
Lord, so that a very large church had been gathered in 
that great and opulent city. Believers there became so 
conspicuous for their numbers, as to be designated by 
a particular name : — 'The disciples were called christ- 
ians first in Antioch.' There were laboring in that city, 
besides Paul and Barnabas, three other ministers, — Si- 
mon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and 
Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the te- 
trach.' The Holy Ghost saw that this city, though ve- 
ry important for its numbers, wealth and enterprise, 
could not claim the labors of five ministers, whilst the 
world at targe was entirely destitute of the gospel. 
Therefore, on a certain occasion, when the church were 
worshipping before the Lord and fasting, the Holy Ghost 
7* 



78 THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 

said : ' Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work 
whereunto I have called them.' The Holy Ghost did 
not say, 'Separate me Simeon and Lucius, and Mana- 
en,' but, 'Separate me Barnabas and Saul' — the spir- 
itual fathers, and main pillars of the church. Had the 
chureh been allowed to vote, it doubtless would have 
spared its sons, rather than its fathers ; — they would 
have stated their fond attachment to their first instruc- 
tors, — would have plead the great influence of these 
two fathers in the church and the irreparable injury 
which would be sustained by their leaving it — and 
would have said, If we must part with some of our 
teachers, take Simeon and Lucius and Manaen, but, 
bereave us not of our spiritual fathers. The question 
however, was not left to their decision? The demand 
is stern and solemn from the Holy Spirit, with whom 
there is no selfish bias, 'Separate me Barnabas and 
Saul.' 

In reflecting on this narration, do we not come to 
the conclusion, that men of the greatest talents 
and influence, and even though settled as pas- 
tors, are called to the work of missions. 

If this sentiment be true, it is one .of immense and 
practical importance, one that not only ministers, but 
churches also ought fully to understand. Let us, then, 
dwell a moment longer on the practice of early times. 

The instance to which we have alluded is a striking 
one, — it contains, distinctly and impressively uttered, 
the mind of the Holy Spirit. It is infallible authority 
that speaks, and what does it declare ? The paramount 
claim of missions to the ablest, holiest and most expe- 
rienced men ; and to such men, too, even though set- 
tled as pastors. If Antioch was required to spare her 
two ablest men, what may not be required of such ci- 
ties as Boston, New-York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore ? 
And, judging, too, from this case of Antioch, what is 
the mind of the Holy Ghost in regard to the 12,000 
or more evangelical ministers in the United States ? 



CLAIM OF MISSIONS ON NINISTERS OF INFLUENCE. 19 

Can it be his will that they should all quietly remain 
where they are ? 

Again, God, in early times made known his mind on 
this point, not only by the express admonition of the 
Holy Ghost, but, also, by the overrulings of his Provi- 
dence. Take the account of the first dispersion. The 
Savior ascended from the mount of Olives, and the 
disciples returned to Jerusalem. The day of Pentecost 
arrived, and three thousand converts were added to 
their number. This multitude of believers was daily 
and rapidly increased. Here, then, was a very large 
city, the capitol and pride of the nation, and a place of 
immense resort from all the nations round about. And 
in this city were many thousands of christians, who were 
in peculiar need of constant care and faithful instruc- 
tion, and had they been divided out to the pastoral care 
of the twelve Apostles, would have made perhaps as 
large churches as any twelve in the city of New York. 
Jerusalem, then, presented to the Apostles a vast amount 
of pastoral care, and a field of labor unequalled, per- 
haps, in religious influence, considering the world as it 
then was, by any city that can be named within the lim- 
its of Christendom. The Apostles were inclined to re- 
main in Jerusalem, and considering the call for labor 
there, it is not wonderful that they were thus inclined. 
They seemed for a time to have forgotten the last com- 
mand of their ascended Lord, and to have chosen the 
work of settled pastors. The Savior saw the evil, and 
allowed a persecution to rage in the city, till first the 
great body of the church, and afterwards all the Apos- 
tles, except James, were scattered abroad. So the great 
Jerusalem was left with but one preacher of the gospeL 
Eleven of the twelve apostles, who had become in a 
measure settled there, were driven abroad ; and not 
from Jerusalem only,but, without the limits of Palestine, 
This is a fact. Let every one draw from it the in- 
struction it affords. To my mind it clashes irreconcila- 
bly with the present distribution of ministers. 



80 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



Take another case. Paul had been laboring at Eph- 
esus two whole years, and had collected a very large 
church in that city. This city was the emporium of 
Asia Minor — a place of much resort, and greatly cel- 
ebrated throughout the known world. The large num- 
ber of disciples there, who needed a pastor to warn 
them day and night with tears, and the wide door which 
was there opened for preaching the gospel, presented 
such strong claims to the mind of Paul, as seemed like- 
ly to fix there his permanent abode. What pastor of 
the present day can urge stronger reasons for continu- 
ing his charge, than Paul might have urged for contin- 
uing his pastoral relation to the large chuch at Ephesus 
For in addition to a large city and a large church, the 
converts had been but lately gathered from heathenism 
— were but babes in Christ — and needed constant in- 
struction and unwearied care. Yet, God was pleased 
to allow Demetrius to excite an uproar, and thus to sev- 
er Paul from his church and congregation, and send 
him abroad into Macedonia. This is another fact — a 
stubborn fact, which we ought to bear in mind and 
weigh well. If God saw best thus to break tender ties, 
separate Paul from a large city and a large body of such 
converts, as above all others, needed special care, and to 
leave the important post almost destitute, can it be his 
will that all the pastors of the present day should stay 
in their places, and that none of them should go forth 
to the heathen? If the city had been Boston, with its 
thousand means of grace, the case would have been 
comparatively weak. But it was Ephesus, a heathen 
city, and depending almost entirely on the living voice 
of Paul, and yet this one preacher must become a mis- 
sionary. Let us look at this fact and each one for him- 
self draw conclusions — not those that are wild and ex- 
travagant, but, such as are true and sober. 

We have a commentary on the last command of Je- 
sus. It was commented upon by the Providence of 
God, separating the Apostles from Jerusalem, Antioch 
and Ephesus. It was commented upon by the direct 



CLAIM OF MISSIONS ON MINISTERS OF INFLUENCE, 81 

admonition of the Holy Ghost in a particular case. It 
was commented upon by the practice of the Apostles. 
Let us beware that we substitute not, for this correct 
commentary, any worldly-wise interpretation of out 
own. Let us admit it just as it comes to us from early 
days, fresh and unmodified, and allow it to govern our 
lives. 

THE MERE FACT OF BEING INSTALLED PaSTOR, IS 
NOT A VALID REASON FOR NOT BECOMING A MISSIONARY. 

There are but few, who do not admit, that the pres- 
ent distribution of ministers is anti-apostolic, — that 
many who are now pas tors ought to have become mis- 
sionaries before they were settled. Now, the mere fact 
of being settled cannot have produced such a vast 
change in the question of duty, as to place it forever at 
rest. If the clustering together of 12,000 ministers with- 
in the bounds of the United States, where a thousand 
means of grace and improvement exist, besides the 
voice of the living teacher, is a very different thing from 
going into all the world, and preaching the gospel to 
every creature ; — an egregious disproportion to the 
wants of the world ; must we stifle all emotion and 
swallow down the bitter satisfaction that it is now too 
late for change? And, yet, there seems to be a tacit 
understanding, that any other distribution, than that 
now existing, of the present generation of ministers, 
is a point not to be agitated. At least, many a pastor 
quiets himself with the thought, that no change is to be 
contemplated in his particular case ; for the care of a 
church is on his hands. Almost by common consent^ 
pastors are excused ; and missionaries are looked for 
from the young men and the children; and the only hope 
of the heathen amounts to this, that some young men 
may be kept from imitating the example of their fathers 
and elder brethren, and be prevailed upon to enter the 
missionary work before they become pastors. For 2 if 



82 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



the mere fact of being a pastor places the question at 
rest, young men will feel themselves relieved, as soon 
as they enter that office. I have known young men, 
whose minds were goaded on the question of going to 
the heathen, like the conscience of a convicted sinner, 
till a call was presented to some important church, and 
then they succeeded in laying the subject at once and 
entirely aside. Like the pursued ostrich, who thrusts 
her head into the sand, and vainly imagines that she is 
concealed from her pursuers, so, I fear, some endeavor 
to elude the convictions of conscience. I put the ques- 
tion to your own good sense, your candor, and your pi- 
ous feelings: is not the plea a mere subterfuge ? Can 
the mere fact of being a pastor excuse a man from go- 
ing to the heathen, when perhaps he became a pastor 
in violation of the Savior's command ? 

It is acknowledged, that many pastors ought to have 
become missionaries before they were settled — that the 
present amazing disproportion between settled minis- 
ters at home and missionaries abroad ought never to 
have existed. To argue so plain case would be a waste 
of breath. How then can the fact of having wandered 
from duty excuse one from the performance of it ? To 
day it is the duty of Jonah to go to Ninevah. To mor- 
row he has engaged his passage to Tarshish — has paid 
his fare — has gone down into the sides of the ship and 
is quietly at rest. Is he therefore excused ? To-day 
the command of Christ presses upon me the obligation 
to go to the heathen. To morrow, leaving out of mind 
this command, which still applies in all its force, I enter 
into obhg ation with a particular church to take up- 
on me its pastoral care; Which obligation is binding ? 
The last do you say ? Can I then thus easily thrust a- 
side the Savior's last and most impressive command ? 
Can I by such a course shield myself effectually from 
its farther application ? I have yet to learn, that by any 
change of place or circumstances we can free ourselves 
from the weight of the Savior's injunction. I mean 
not to assert, that all who ought to have become mission- 



claim of missions on ministers of influence. 83 



aries before they were settled, ought to become so now. 
Some have entirely hedged up their way ; and though 
they may have been disobedient in doing so, yet deep 
regret and sincere repentance is all the reparation they 
can now make. But, those who ought to have gone to 
the heathen, and before whom the door is still open for 
going, such should still become missionaries, and on the 
obvious principle that it is better to do our duty late, 
than not to do it at all. The mere plea of being a pas- 
tor is not a sufficient excuse ; and it is losing too, con- 
tinually, more and more of its force. It is a wonder 
that it should be relied upon so much as a quietus, since 
in the present age, the residence of a pastor is very tran- 
sient and uncertain. 

Again, let me say, it is a great thing, a good thing 
and a rare thing to be entirely honest in the sight of 
God. Let us endeavor to be so. It is to be feared that 
there may be some who exempt themselve from becom- 
ing missionaries on the ground of being pastors, who 
are not altogether honest in their excuse. Are there 
not some individuals, who make it, who would manifest 
but little hesitation in leaving the pastoral office to take 
the oversight of a College, to become a Professor in a 
Theological Seminary or to take charge of some promi- 
nent religious periodical ? When urged to become a 
missionary, the pastor pleads his attachment to his peo- 
ple — -their affection for him which gives him great in- 
fluence, and his acquaintance with their prejudices, o- 
pinions, habits and whole character, so as to adapt his 
instructions to their particular case. He mentions these 
and the like considerations, and concludes very readily 
that he can be more useful in his present situation than 
in any other. But when a presidency, a professorship 
or a more influential church is offered, the reasons be- 
fore urged., seem to lose something of their force, and 
through the intervention of some new light, which I 
shall not account for, the conclusion is formed that an- 
other situation would be more useful. The motive for 
a change is a good one, but, it is to be remembered that 



84 



THOUGHTS ON MISSION. 



this same motive, that of being more useful, could not 
prevail upon them to become missionaries. 

Facts of this kind could be collected, I think to, a 
considerable extent, and they lead me, however unwill- 
ing, to suspect, that in some cases, the honest reason 
why ministers do not become missionaries, is not that 
they are pastors, but something quite different. 

Another fact, too, makes me suspicious that there is 
some lack of entire honesty. A pastor says he cannot 
become a missionary, for he has the care of a church. 
In a few months, for some cause or other, he is dismiss- 
ed from his church and people. What does he do? 
become a missionary ? — I have one in my eye who was 
a pastor of a church in a large city. He told me, that 
nothing but his relation as pastor in that city, could 
keep him a moment from the missionary work. Soon 
after, he was dismissed from his church and people, and 
think you he became a missionary ? You would betray 
a very limited knowledge of human nature to think so. 

" But " says one, " I am opposed to fickleness and 
change. " Ah ! indeed, does it betray fickleness, to 
leave a church to become a missionary ? Did God fa- 
vor fickleness and change when he prevented the perma- 
nent location of the Apostles in Palestine, by a voice 
from Heaven, and by violent persecutions? Did the 
Savior favor ficleness in his last command. When a 
presidency, a professorship or a more prominent and in- 
fluential church is offered you, then, speak of fickleness. 
The excuse may possibly be in place. But, never, nev- 
er, in place, while untold millions of our race are dying 
for lack of vision, and our Commission reads ; ' Go in- 
to ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY 

creature.' 

Some excuses of pastors for remaining at home 
which are really reasons forgoing abroad. 

One says, " The attachment between me and my 
people is very dear, and this attachment gives me great 
influence with them. " I reply, Was not the attach- 



CLAIM OP MISSIONS ON MINISTERS OF INFLUENCE. 85 

men I very dear between the Apostles and the disciples 
at Jerusalem, and also between Paul and the converts 
at Antioch, and at Ephesus ? What language of affec- 
tion and solicitude can equal that of Paul for his con- 
verts. He calls them his "joy and crown" — the "lit- 
tle children for whom he travails in birth, till Christ be 
formed in them." He says to them, " I live, if ye stand 
fast in the Lord." 

And, had not the Apostles great influence in the 
churches in which they labored ? Had not Paul and 
Barnabas great influence in the church at Antioch ? 
Did not the church love and respect them, and hang in 
breathless silence upon their lips, and look upon their 
departure as an irreparable loss ? Yet, though entwin- 
ed into the hearts of the people, and possessing every 
advantage to instruct them, which intimate acquaint- 
ance and unbounded influence could give, the Holy 
Ghost notwithstanding said, "Separate me Barnabas 
and Saul. " 

Attachment is your plea, but, the spirit of the Gospel 
is a spirit of self-denial, and requires us not only to for- 
sake church and people, but, also, father and mother, 
brother an4 sister, son and daughter, and to hold our 
own lives loosely. Those persons, to whom attachment 
is strongest, and who can't be spared on that account, 
are the best fitted for missions. 

You plead the influence, which you possess with 
your church and people. This, instead of being a rea- 
son for remaining at home, is a powerful argument for 
going abroad. In that very influence you possess an 
advantage and qualification for the missionary work, 
which but very few missionaries enjoy. Tt is greatly to 
be lamented that the church has but very little acquain- 
tance with her missionaries. It was not so in primi- 
tive times. On this account, there is room for the ques- 
tion to arise, whether there ought not to be less of the 
home minister for life and the exile for life — a narrow- 
er gulf between the two, and more passing and repass- 
ing, as the Apostles were wont to do, — a breaking up 
8 



86 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



of caste, grade and condition among ministers, as re- 
gards various fields ; — a more literal compliance with 
the precept of £ going into all the world and preaching 
the gospel to every creature. ' Be this however as it 
may, (for there is much that can be said on either side 
of the question,) it is most certainly true, that the pas- 
tor possesses one very great advantage — that by going 
to the heathen he can wake up, in one church at least, 
the spirit of doing good, the enterprising and benevo- 
lent spirit of Christ and his Apostles. He may take 
with him as helpers, some of its most intelligent and 
active members, and call forth the contributions and en- 
list the prayers of those who may remain. 

It seems, that nothing less than such means, as the 
separation of pastors for the work of missions, can a- 
vail to awake the slumbering churches, and to lead them 
to begin in earnest to seek the salvation of the hea- 
then ; — to feel that the work presses upon them indi- 
vidually, and demands all their energies and their per- 
gonal enlistment. For it is a sober and humiliating fact, 
as I have had some opportunity of judging, that there 
are but few churches, comparatively, in our land, who 
seem to have drank deeply into the missionary spirit. 
There is need, therefore, of a movement on the part of 
pastors, to startle and arouse the churches from their 
guilty slumbers. 

A pastor possesses much influence with his church 
and congregation. The Lord then has given him five 
talents, and he can easily make them ten ; — by going* 
abroad he can benefit his church as much and more, 
perhaps, than by remaining their pastor, and at the 
same time be the instrument of saving many heathen 
souls. This must be so, if there is any truth in the 
Bible declaration, that "there is that scattereth and 
yet increaseth," and that "he that watereth shall be 
v/atered also himself." It is true if God's blessing dis- 
tils upon the liberal soul and the liberal church. It is 
true if the performance of duty is attended with the 
Savior's smiles and a rich reward. It is true, also, if 



CLAIM OF MISSIONS ON MINISTERS OF INFLUENCE, 87 

we may place any dependance upon the first principles 
of philosophy and common sense. True religion, or 
the spirit of the gospel, is a spirit of benevolence — 
love to God and man. Now, who does not see, at a 
glance, that a pastor could in no way so effectually awa- 
ken in his church a spirit of benevolent feeling and ac- 
tion, as by exhibiting it in his own person, — by rising up, 
and going forth to the heathen, urging a part of his 
flock to accompany him, and the rest to sustain him in 
the field ? Who doubts, that by such a course he 
would do more to arouse the pure and active religion 
of Jesus Christ and his Apostles, than he could possibly 
do in any other way, — that he would give an impulse 
to his church in favor of primitive piety and practice, 
that should add vastly, to its strength, its glory and its 
numbers, and be felt in all time to come. Let not the 
pastor, then, excuse himself from the missionary work, 
because he has acquired influence in his church and 
congregation, for that very fact is a powerful argument 
for going abroad. 

For the same reason no one can excuse himself, be- 
cause he fills a post of vast importance. He is the 
pastor of an influential church, a president of a College, 
a professor in a Theological Seminary, the editor of a 
religious paper of immense circulation, or the secretary 
of some society ; — his station is one of vast responsi- 
bility, and he imagines that he is therefore excused from 
becoming a missionary. But, was not Jerusalem an im- 
portant place, more prominent compared with other 
cities of that time, than any city in the United States? 
And yet, all the Apostles, except one, were required 
not only to leave that city, but, to go without the lim- 
its of Palestine. Was not Antioch as important as Bos- 
ton or Philadelphia ? Yet Paul and Barnabas were not 
suffered to remain there. 

Besides, is not the work of a missionary a difficult, 
important and responsible work ? The Holy Spirit 
thought so in Apostolic times. When a man was need- 
ed to preach to Cornelius and his household, a man of 



88 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



no less ability and influence than Peter was chosen. 
When a man was called to go to Antioch, Barnabas 
was sent, a man of great piety and influence. And when 
two of the five preachers at Antioch were called to go 
to the heathen, the Holy Ghost did not choose Simeon 
or Lucius or Manaen, but, said 'Separate me Barna- 
bas and Saul;' — ihe men of the greatest ability, ex- 
perience, piety and wisdom. Thus the Holy Spirit 
seemed to declare that the work of a missionary requir- 
ed greater talents, more mature wisdom, and deeper 
piety than the work of a pastor in the largest and most 
influential churches. 

And, this doctrine is not only in accordance with the 
instructions of the Holy Ghost, and the practice of prim- 
itive times ; but, is also a dictate of common sense. 
Would you choose weak men to penetrate into the 
very midst of the enemy, and to grapple with the Anaks 
of the land, and keep those who are strong in a garri- 
son at home ? Would you select indifferent statesmen 
to settle the affairs of revolutionary France, or to re- 
duce to order the chaotic mass of the South American 
States, and employ the able, the wise and talented in gov- 
erning a country already quiet and peaceful ? Did it 
require less wisdom to lay the foundation and form the 
constitution of our good government, than it requires to 
manage the state on principles already established? 
Does it require less skill, to draft the plan of a capitol, 
than to work at the building when the plan is mature ? 
Does it require less wisdom to govern a camp in a state 
of mutiny, than when in subjection and at peace ? Look 
then, at the work of missions. Does it require less tal- 
ent to deal with minds clouded by ignorance, perverted 
by superstition and barred by arrogance, bigotry and 
pride, than to instruct the unbiased, the willing and in- 
telligent? Does it require less wisdom, to tear up the 
foundations of heathen society, and lay it anew on the 
principles of the gospel, — to change society morally, 
religiously and socially, than to preserve in a good con- 
dition a people already intelligent, industrious and 



claim: of missions on 1 mints tew or fkrtxfttspene. 8& 

christian? Surely, if talent is needed any wherein the 
kingdom of Christ, it is in the missionary work. That 
minister, whose talents and piety make him so useful at 
home, that he cannot be spared, that is the minister 
of all others who is needed abroad. The foreign field 
calls for no laborers who can be conveniently spared. 

Then, is the church of a pastor wealthy and influen- 
tial? It is the very church that needs to be aroused 
by his leaving it. Or, is he connected with a Literary 
or Theological Institution. Some thus connected are 
needed to go, to produce the best impression on the 
young men who are in training. The more important 
and influential, then, one's place is, the more like a rush- 
ing flood, do reasons crowd upon him to arise and go. 

Some excuses of pastors that bavk weight, but 
are not sufficient. 

It is very common for men to excuse themselves 
from the work of missions, on the ground, that they are 
somewhat advanced in years. There is weight in this 
excuse. That person would exhibit the want of a proper 
balance of mind, who should urge all indiscriminately, 
whatever their age and however circumstanced in life, 
to go forth to the heathen. But, still the excuse of age 
ought to be looked at cautiously. 

Age implies experience, authority, dignity and wis- 
dom — the very qualities most wanted in the difficult 
j work of missions. The work of tearing up and laying 
anew the very foundations of society, moral, religious 
and social, is a task, that ought by no means to be com- 
mitted to the young and inexperienced. It is prepos- 
terous to commit altogether to novices in the ministry a 
work so new, so complicated, so beset with difficulties, 
on the right hand and on the left, and so momentous, 
too, in its responsibilities. Can Satan be driven so easi- 
ly from his own territory, that none but raw troops are 
needed for the contest ? Can the broad and deep in- 
trenchments of Paganism, Mohammedanism and Roman- 
ism be so easily taken, as not to need men of age, ex- 
8* 



90 



THOUGHTS OST MISSIONS. 



perience and skill, to direct in the assault ? Can the 
snares in which the heathen are held ; which are laid 
with all the subtlety of the Arch-Fiend, be so easily de- 
vested of their specious character, and traced into their 
thousand windings, as not to require the wisdom and 
experience of age ? A minister has age ; — he has then 
one great qualification for the work. " Paul the aged " 
had none too much experience, dignity and wisdom for 
the work of a missionary to heathen lands. 

Bat age, it is said, is a great barrier in acquiring a 
foreign language. There is some force in this remark, 
but, let us be cautious, that we do not trust too much to 
it. A great amount of labor may be performed on hea- 
then ground without a knowledge of the language. 
Much can be done in the English language, and much, 
too, can be done through interpreters. All that David 
Brainerd accomplished was in this way. 

But, how certain is it that persons somewhat advan- 
ced cannot acquire a foreign language ? This plea is 
not peculiar to those who have been some time in the 
ministry. No excuse is more frequently offered and 
with more appearance of honesty, even in the College 
and :the Theological Seminary. It is difficult to place 
the mark of age, where this excuse may be properly of- 
fered, and where it may not. Shall we place it at 35 ? 
Some missionaries now in the field, entered on the work 
at that age, arid acquired the language without much 
difficulty. It may be remarked, too, that men of traffic 
abroad, from youth to grey hairs, usually learn so much 
of a foreign language as to answer their purpose. Let 
us bew r are then how much we depend on the excuse of 
age, and be cautious, too, how far up the scale of years 
we place the mark. 

Another excuse which has some weight is this : " I 
must remain at home to take care of my aged pa- 
rents. " So said one to Christ, " Lord I will follow 
thee, but, suffer me first to go and bury my Father. " 
Jesus answered, " Let the dead bury their dead, but, 
go thou and preach the gospel. " I leave to the read- 



CLAIM OF MISSIONS ON MINISTERS OF INFLUENCE. 91 

er to determine the precise meaning and force of this* 
reply of our Saviour. This much it certainly means,, 
that some may excuse themselves from preaching, to 
take care of their parents, when the excuse is not valid. 
I will not say that the excuse is not sufficient in some 
cases, but, I am inclined to think that such cases are 
very rare. A parent must be very dependant upon a 
son, to be liable to such inconvenience and suffering 
from his absence, as can reasonably weigh in the bal- 
ance against the eternal agonies of the hundredsof mill- 
ions of dying heathen, — agonies which are sounding in 
his ears and pleading with his heart to go abroad. 

But, the excuse, which of all others seems to be the 
most valid, is this, ; i My going to the heathen is out 
of the question for I have a family of children. ' This 
is indeed a tender point. God has given rne some ex- 
perience on this subject, and I know how to appreciate 
the excuse. But, the Saviour says, " He that loveth 
son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. " 
This declaration means nothing, unless it requires us to 
make great sacrifices in regard to our children. So far 
as we can at present see, the world cannot be conver- 
ted without great self-denial on this point. Precisely 
what sacrifices are to be made in regard to children, is 
a question which is not, as yet, fully determined. 

But, let us look at the excuse. If a minister may 
stay at home because he has children, may not the mis- 
sionary who has children return home ? A pastor has 
one child and cannot go. Then, may not the mission- 
ary who has one child come back ? A pastor has six 
children and cannot go. Many missionaries have six 
children, let them return. The mere circumstance of 
being already there cannot have much weight, and a 
voyage in such a question and among a multitude of o- 
ther weighty reasons is scarcely worth being named. 
If children, then, are an excuse, let missionaries return. 
No, you say, that would be to extinguish the last hope 
of the milienium, and to leave the world in ruins. I 
answer, If the prospect of the milienium can thus be blot- 



92 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS'. 



ted out, it is already extinguished, by the staying at 
home of the great body of the ministry ; for the few 
men in the field, or all who are likely to be there, at the 
present rate of going, can afford no reasonable hope of 
the latter day glory. 

Missionaries who have children must not return om 
that account. What then shall they do with their 
children? Keep them and train them up to be helpers 
in the work ? Let pastors then take their children in- 
to the field and train them up for that purpose. You 
certainly have hearts too noble to impose a burden on 
the shoulders of others which you would not cheerfully 
bear yourselves. Your children would have the advan- 
tage of the children of missionaries, having been thus 
far trained in a christian land. As to future advanta- 
ges of education they shall have the same with the chil- 
dren now abroad. You certainly cannot complain of 
equality. 

But you say, let missionaries send their children 
home. Then let pastors leave their children at home 
and go abroad. Ah ! you say, pastors cannot endure 
the thought, — it would be a shock to their parental 
feelings, that they cannot sustain. But, T ask, have 
missionaries no feelings ? have their hearts become hard 
like blocks of wood and pieces of rock ? Does love to 
Christ and compassion for the heathen, tend to make 
men and women obtuse in their feelings, so that a fa- 
ther or mother on heathen ground does not feel as in- 
tensely for the present and eternal welfare of a child as 
a parent who has never gone to the heathen ? Ah ! 
had you seen what my eyes have witnessed, facts then 
should speak and I would be silent. Missionaries, in- 
deed, are trailed to cast their care upon God ; — their 
feelings are chastened and disciplined: — but at the 
same time, deep and intense. To a thousand dangers, 
toils and hardships they may be inured, — but, when 
the separation of children is thought of, they show full 
well that they are no proof against an agony of feeling. 
Certainly, then, you will not plead for exemption. You 




CLAIM OF MISSIONS ON MINISTERS OF INFLUENCE. 93 

would not place upon others this burden, and pull away 
your own shoulders from it. You have souls too gen- 
erous and benevolent to do that. You cannot find it in 
your hearts to offer to the lips of others a cup more bit- 
ter than you would drink yourselves. You can choose 
guardians for your children, far better than the mission- 
aries can, who are abroad, and your children shall have 
the same provision for their support and education as 
theirs have. 

We have glanced at some excuses. Many others 
there are in this excuse-making age. Be entreated to 
look at them with the command of Christ, a sinking 
world and a coming judgment in your eye, and as far as 
they have weight and no farther be influenced by them. 
Where exemption cannot honestly he pleaded, the com- 
mand in all its force is binding. 

Other reasons why some pastors of influence 
and talent should become missionaries. 

Such a measure seems necessary, for how otherwise, 
I enquire, can the means he raised to sustain missions 
abroad, and to send forth young men ivho may offer 
themselves ? It is well known that operations abroad 
have been and are still exceedingly crippled. It is well 
known, too, that quite a company of young men have at 
different times been waiting, for want of requisite funds 
to send them forth to the heathen. 

Now, this is the state of things, not, because, there is 
not money enough in the hands of professing Christians; 
— no one imagines that such is the fact; — but, be- 
cause christians, as a body, are not aroused to duty. 
What means shall be taken to arouse them ? I, for one, 
am inclined to think, that there would be hope, if some 
influential and prominent pastors would enter the mis- 
sionary work. In such a case, I should indeed have 
strong hope, that the impulse falling in with the spirit of 
primitive practice, and the will of the Holy Ghost, 
would be such, as to bring forth the funds needed to 
sustain the operations now begun, send forth waiting 



94 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



young men and carry themselves also into the fiel<2. 
I feel quite confident that the measure would soon 
clear the sea board of all who might be detained and 
place their joyful feet on foreign soil. 

The slumber of the churches has become so deep 
and death-like, that nothing but a moral earthquake can 
arouse them. The slumber is so deep as to be decep- 
tive, and the churches mistake the lea,st spark of inter- 
est, for a full glow of missionary feeling. There are 
but few churches comparatively that are much interest- 
ed, and but few individuals in those churches that feel 
deeply. There is a death-like sleep, — a moral incu- 
bus, on the great body of christians. Its enervating in- 
fluence presses heavily and has pressed for ages. Un- 
til God shall break its power, (and our hope is in him, ) 
heaven must lie waste and hell continue to groan un- 
der the enormous load of untold millions. Some mighty 
convulsion is needed, to break the leaden slumbers, — 
no less a shock than the rising up, and going forth to 
heathen lands of many of the ablest and most influen- 
tial pastors. There is hope that such a movement, un- 
der God, might produce the desired effect ; and there 
should then remain, not only in God's promise, but, al- 
so in the means in use, a rational prospect of the lat- 
ter day glory. 

The great body of professing Christians are becom- 
ing luxurious in their modes of life. One cannot go 
through the churches, after the absence of several years, 
without being forcibly impressed with this fact. They 
press forward after wealth, and profess to be accumula- 
ting it for Christ, but, in the end, spend it on them- 
selves and on their children. Now what, under God, 
shall break up this covetousness and luxurious manner 
of life ? What shall bring them back to the pure and 
unadulterated principles of the gospel, — to live, labor 
and die for Christ, as did the primitive disciples? Let 
pastors, like the Apostles, go into all the world and 
preach the gospel to every creature. There is reason 
to hope, that the church members would likewise imbibe 



CL1IM of missions on ministers of influence. 95 



the right spirit, and act on right principles. Then 
we should hear no more of schools disbanded and 
missionaries detained, but of troops of heralds carry- 
ing out the news of salvation and sending back tidings 
of success. There is much philosophical and Bible 
truth in the proverb ; 1 Like people like priest. ' O, 
what responsibility rests on the ministers of Christ ! 

Again, many settled ministers of talent and influence 
ought to go abroad, for if they remain at home, what 
hope will exist of such a number of missionaries as 
seem needed for the world's conversion. If many of 
those already in the sacred office do not go, it is abso- 
lutely certain, that the present generation of heathen 
must die, without the gospel. The angel of death con- 
tinues hovering over the dying nations, mowing down 
his 20 millions a year, and before ministers can be rais- 
ed up from among the youth and children, will be draw- 
ing a stroke at the last man of all that are now heathen. 
The present generation of ministers must preach the gos- 
pel to the present generation of mankind. It will be the 
duty of the next generation of ministers to preach to the 
inhabitants that shall be then on the globe. To look 
for missionaries from among the young alone, is making 
no provision for the present generation of heathen, un- 
less by implication, it be a provision for their eternal per- 
dition. If the heathen are to be left till missionaries can 
be trained up, they are to be left, — the soul shudders at 
the thought, — till they shall be in hell! By making 
this postponement, the churches, in effect, though cer- 
tainly without intending it, sign the death warrant of the 
present 600,000,000 of perishing heathen — relinquish 
all effort for this vast multitude, and only dream of sa- 
ving the next generation, of whom it would be a mercy 
never to be born, unless there shall be more hope of 
their salvation than can be seen at present : — dream, 
I say, of saving the next generation, for to think much 
of raising up the young to be missionaries, without 
going ourselves, is little better than dreaming. 

To induce young men, to any great extent, to become 



96 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



missionaries, when their fathers and elder brothers do 
not, is a vain and hopeless task. Precept must become 
more powerful than example before such a result can 
take place. How can you so blindfold the young, stop 
their ears and wall them off from surrounding influen- 
ces, as to expect such a result ? If their eyes are left o- 
pen, what do they see ? They see their fathers and 
elder brethren settled at home, — and some of them in 
quiet, comfort and honor. If their ears are left open, 
what do they hear ? They hear various excuses for re- 
maining at home, and among others the specious idea 
of training up children to be missionaries. And what 
will they do ? They will dream of training your grand- 
children for missions, and your grand-children dream of 
training the next generation, and so on, as the sixty gen- 
erations past have done, from the time of the Savior down. 
But the fire of God's spirit shall burn up this chaff. The 
world shall not be cheated out of its millenium. The 
jndgment trumpet shall not sound before the arrival of 
the latter day glory. 

To become a missionary in the present state of things 
is sailing against wind and tide, so that those who find 
their way to the heathen, compared with the number 
who ought to go, are very few indeed. To urge a large 
number into the field is hopeless. Buonaparte might 
as well have urged his soldiers over the Alps without 
leading them. We cannot expect the nature of things 
to change, and precept to become more powerful than 
example. A portion of the more talented of the settled 
ministry must lead the way. Then there shall be found 
a resuscitating principle, — our eyes shall beam with joy 
— and we shall fondly cherish a rational hope of the 
world's renovation. 

Again, many pastors should become missionaries, for 
all things await their personal enlistment in the ser- 
vice. God, in his providence, is causing a state of pre- 
paration in the world, which calls for some mighty move- 
ment on the part of the church. A door is opened into 
almost every nation on the earth, and ships are ready to 



CLAIM OF MISSIONS ON MINISTERS OF INFLUENCE. 9^7 

carry us to almost every port. Now, is the time, for a 
great effort. All the elements are ready for action, and 
need only to be brought to bear on the glorious cause 
of the worlds conversion. To effect this, there must 
be a high stand of prayerful enterprise, on the part of 
the present generation of ministers. The Lord has 
brought you to the ministry for such a time as this ,and 
now surely you will not prove yourselves unworthy of 
•so vast a responsibility, but come up joyfully to the work, 
and reap the harvest of the world. 

And here let me say, that the millions of souls al- 
ready lost are immense, and it would be awfully pre- 
sumptuous, by any neglect on our part, to add to the 
■sum, the millions and hundreds of millions of the pre- 
sent generation. Century after century has rolled a- 
long, engulphing generation after generation, till one 
would think, that Satan himself would be satisfied with 
the enormous havoc. Eighteen centuries have passed 
away, and 60 generations, 500,000,000, each — 30,000, 
000,000 of immortal souls, left to perish, since Christ 
gave us command to evangelize them. Are not 30,000, 
000,000 enough ? Shall we. by any -guilty neglect, suf- 
fer the present generation, 600,000,000 more, to be ad- 
ded 3 O let the billions of souls already lost suffice. 
O let us ariee, go and preach the gospel to the nations, 
that the generations that remain between this and the 
judgment, may be saved. 

Let me suggest, too, that nothing would so readily 
produce union among ministers at home, as to divert 
all the 'r powers of body and mind, into some all ab- 
sorbing and self-denying enterprise. Now, what an- 
gel of heaven has not wept over the contentions and 
jealousies that cloud the glory of the American churches! 
How has the heart of Jesus bled over the dissentions 
and strife of his own ministers ! And is there no rem- 
edy ? Try an experiment. Let pastors become so en- 
grossed in fulfilling their commission, as to obey its lit- 
teral import, and arise and go. I mistake much, if the 
movement would not make a material impression on 
9 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



their contentions and jealousies. They would feel that 
they were doing a great work, and could not come down. 
For contention they would find neither time nor incli- 
nation. It would be difficult to state, in a foreign 
tongue, their metaphysical distinctions so as to make a 
difference. Higher and nobler objects would en- 
gross the soul. Be entreated to try this course. Then ? 
the recording angel shall not be compelled, with aching 
heart and streaming eyes to inscribe "Ichabod" on our 
American Zion, but, with willing soul and ready hand, 
shall write in fairer lines.: 'Beutiful for situation 
the joy of the whole earth. ' 

Some excuses common to Pastors and to candi- 
dates FOR THE MINISTRY. 

It is often said, ' I never felt it my duty to go to the 
Jieathen ; — I never had any such impression. ' 

No such impression ! Did, then, the command of 
our ascended Lord, his last command, delivered under 
the most solemn circumstances, make no impression upon 
you ? Did the temporal and eternal miseries of 600, 
000,000 of your fellow men make no impression upon 
you? Did their groans and sighs, which came over the 
waters like the voice of seven thunders, peal after r eal, 
;make no impression upon you? Did the plunge of 20 
millions a year into the burning lake, fail to make you 
feel ? And could you remain at home with comfort and 
peace of mind, with the weeping and wailing of so ma- 
ny millions of d}ing souls in your ears, backed up with 
the command of Christ to go and save them ? While 
Jesus plead, Lo I died for them, go, preach my gospel 
to them that they may live ; could you remain unim- 
pressed and unmoved ? And have all these considera- 
tions, and a hundred more, been urged upon you for 
years, and yet failed to make an impression} Alas! 
of what are your hearts made that they do not feel ? 
Look for no supernatural impression. Missionaries 
have none. There is no need of any. He that can 
live, and not be impressed, may well tremble for his own 



CL\IM OF MISSIONS ON MINISTERS OF INFLUENCE. 99 

salvation. It appears, that you are very easily impress- 
ed, that it is your duty to remain at home. The mo- 
tives, I fear, that come before your minds are well suit- 
ed to make an impression. You quickly perceive a call 
when country, home, friends, the endearments of so- 
ciety and the like considerations crowd upon your minds. 
O, Dear Brethren, let us be entirely honest, as we ex- 
pect soon to meet the Savior and the world of perishing 
souls for whom he died. 

Another similar excuse is often made : " Did I pos~ 
sess the requisite attainments in holiness I should de- 
light to go abroad. But as the case is, I cannot become 
a missionary. I have not piety enough. " 

Not piety enough ! Then be entreated to become 
more pious without delay. As you value the souls of 
dying millions defer not to become more holy. Every 
moment you procrastinate, you are guilty of destroying 
the heathen. They fall from your arms into the burn- 
ing lake, because you are not more pious. But, what 
is holiness ? Is it not obedience to the commands of 
Christ? Obey then his last command — '-that will be 
becoming more holy. Go forth to the heathen from 
love to Christ — that will be becoming more pious. 
' Not piety enough ! ' Will you presume to offer that 
excuse to the Lord Jesus, when you shall stand before him 
to render account for the blood of the heathen ? And 
when you shall see multitudes of the heathen sinking 
into the flames of hell, whom you might have saved j 
and hear their weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, 
will it ease your mind and quiet your conscience, that 
you had wot piety enough to go and make known to 
them the way of life ? This is a solemn subject. Let 
us try, dear Brethren, to look at it as we ought. 

Allied to this exeuse is the following: <£ I have never 
thought myself qualified for the work of missions. It 
is a work, which in my view requires rare endowments. 
Did I possess the requisite qualifications I should de- 
YigkX to engage in so glorious a work. " 

To this excuse I would say : There is room in. the 



100 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



wide field of missions for every grade and variety of 
talent. Such is the universal testimony of those who 
have gone forth. Neither could it be otherwise in so 
various and vast a work, as that of converting all na- 
tions, many of whom need to be instructed in the sim- 
plest arts of civilized life, and in the very alphabet of 
knowledge. But, the excuse you render, is entirely at 
variance with the facts in the case. If the work of mis-^ 
sions be deemed worthy of the greatest talents, why is it, 
that a large number do not go forth from among the 
more prominent and influential in the sacred office ? 
The plea of disqualification is a popular one. There is^ 
in it much appearance of humility and self-depreciation. 
But, facts testify, that many who plead their want of 
talent, do not hesitate, if invited, to take upon them the 
care of a College, or of a large and opulent church. If 
the conduct of men is to be regarded as a just interpre- 
ter of their sentiments, then, the great body of the 
Christian ministry, instead of regarding themselves un- 
fit for the work of missions, consider themselves too 
well qualified to enter it. They really think that those 
of inferior qualifications will do for missions, whilst those 
ef superior minds and brilliant talents must be reserved, 
for important stations at home. 

It is said again : " All cannot go abroad. " 

I reply : do not use the word "all- till there shall be 
some need of it. There is no danger yet that the home 
company will be too small. 

There is another excuse which is worthy of more no- 
tice. One says : <f My own country claims my first at- 
tention. It presents a field of vast extent and demands, 
a vast amount of labor. Its Schools, Colleges and, 
Seminaries must be sustained. Its religious periodic- 
als must be edited. The churches must be watched, 
over and brought up to a higher standard of piety. 
Revivals must be promoted?., But, passing by these 
claims for labor, look at the wide spreading desolations, 
of the West, where ignorance, infidelity and Romanism, 
prevail,, and. threaten, at no. very future day, to be the 



CLAIM? OF MISSIONS ON MINISTERS OF INFLUENCE. 10 1 

overthrow of our government — the extinguishment of 
our dearly bought and precious inheritance. All our 
exertions must be put forth to save our country, for the 
progress of ligJit and knowledge throughout the world 
depends on its existence. The overthrow of our gov- 
ernment would put back the dial of the moral world ten 
centuries. Our own nation lost, and what would be- 
come of the heathen ? when would the millenium ar- 
rive ? Our present attention must be directed to the 
salvation of our own country, and our missionary exer- 
tions must be concentrated on the West. " 

The excuse does not stop here, but, a citizen from 
Great Britian would say : " I too must speak in behalf 
of my country — a country whose possessions encircle 
the globe. The existence and religious prosperity of a 
nation, whose commerce is sogreat, and whose dominions 
embrace a large portion of the: heathen world, cannot 
but be intimately connected with the universal preva- 
lence of light and peace.- It is of the first importance, 
that the heart of such. a nation should beat with a healthy 
pulse, — that much effort should be made to promote 
a; high standard of vital godliness in the Universities and ; 
churches at home. But more than this,, look at the vast 
body of laboring men in England and Ireland, who are 
living in ignorance and in sin. They call loudly for 
teachers and for preachers of the gospel, and ought to 
receive for the present, at least, all we can educate and 
all we can support. " 

In reply to this excuse I would' first say : Let us look 
a- moment at the conclusion, to which we are reduced. 
The United States can furnish no missionaries, for the 
present at least, far less can Great Britian, and the Con- 
tinent of Europe is certainly out of the question. The 
inevitable conclusion is, that the present generation of 
heathen must be left to perish. Six hundred millions 
of our race must be deliberately relinquished to endure 
the agonies of eternal death. But, what is the plea that 
80 readily consigns the millions of ignorant heathen to 
hopelessness and despair ? u We must go to the west." 



102. 



e» ^ e must direct our efforts to the laboring class of 
England and Ireland. " Then, I say, be consistent and 
actually do what you profess. As yet, how many of the 
learned, the eloquent and influential of the ministry have 
become missionaries at the West? Some have gone to 
the West to be Presidents of Colleges there, but, how 
many have gone to engage in the more appropriate du- 
ties of the missionary!. And in> Great Britian, how 
many have left their professorships in the Universities,, 
and their wealthy churches to labor as missionaries 
among the ignorant class of society in! England and Ire- 
land ? O, the West and the ignorant class in England 
and Ireland would lift up their hearts to God in grati- 
tude, if you would go forth to the heathen, for the re- 
flex influence of such a* course would scatter among 
them the means of grace as thick as the stars of heaven, 
and as bright as the sun: in his glory. I could almost 
assert, from personal observation?, that every mission- 
ary to the heathen, sends ten to the West. If men are 
pressed to go to China, they cannot stop, short of the 
West. Besides, have you forgotten' the nature of benev- 
olence ? If you wish to strengthen it, increase it and 
expand it, so as to be the means of saving the U. States, 
ajid of saving Great Britian?, then bring it into exercise. 
Let the church impart liberally of what she has, both 
of men and money. She will have the more left, par- 
adoxical as the assertion may at first seem. Let the 
principle of benevolence be aroused in the churches, and 
it is literally inexhaustible in its resources, both of mo- 
ney and of men ; for the more it exhausts the more it 
still possesses. This in not mere missionary philosophy, 
but, Bible doctrine ; and so plainly inculcated, that he 
that doubts it is a novice in the Scriptures^ and a babe 
in the school of Christ. There is a backwardness, an 
apathy and deadness in the ministry, and in the 
churches, and it is therefore that infidelity and Ro- 
manism prevail at the West, and that the ignorant class 
in England and Ireland remain in wretchedness. The 
great thing needed is, that the spirit of benevolence* 



CLUM OF MISSIONS ON MINISTERS OF INFLUENCE. 103 



the spirit of Christ, or in other words, true religion be 
aroused in the churches. And in no way can you so 
effectually do it, as by giving yourselves to the mission- 
ary work. God's wisdom is very much at variance with 
the cold, calculating, short-sighted and sin-blinded wis- 
dom of man. Let us follow heavenly wisdom, as laid 
down in the Bible, 1 give, ; ' Go, ' and thereby save 
ourselves, our country and the world. That nation 
that obeys God shall prosper. Let us try the Bible 
piiilosophv of saving the United States and Great Brit- 
ian, BY OBEYING G O D — by going, forth and 
teaching all nations. 



CHAPTER VII. 



MISTAKEN VIEWS OF THE GREAT 

COMMISSION. 

The Founder of the Church was a missionary. The 
church is a missionary band, professedly aiming to car- 
fry out the design of its founder, in the wide held of the- 
world. The commission to the Apostles is the Com- 
mission to Christ's ministers in every age. This com- 
mission, it is to be feared, is losing much of its force 
from misinterpretation. 

That a construction somewhat incorrect is placed by 
some ministers on the commission which they hold, 
seems to be evident ; for, how otherwise should an im- 
pression obtain, that there is something peculiar about 
the office of the missionary, — that his commission is 
quite different from that of other ministers of Christ; 

NO PECULIARITY ABOUT THE OFFICE OF MISSIONARY. 

Let the commission of both the minister at home and> 
missionary abroad be exhibited and read. The terms, 
word for word are the same. It is unhappy, extremely 
so, that a peculiarity is thrown about the word mis* 
sionary, since the New Testament authorizes no such 
distinction* Both ministers at home and those abroad 
claim to be successors of the Apostles or first Mission- 
aries, whose letter of instructions, short but explicit 
reads thus : " Go ye into all the world and preach the 
the gospel to every creature. " This is the commission 
of every ambassador, and no one, at home or abroad, 
can consistently hold his office any longer than he con- 
tinues to act in accordance with its import; 

The Savior is all wise, and knew precisely what com- 
mission to give. He carefully chose every word in 



MISTAKEN VIEWS OF THE GREAT COMMISSION. 1 Oo 

which it is expressed. Tiie Apostles showed by their 
conduct, how they understood it — that they knew 
what was meant by s all the world ' and f every crea- 
ture. ' Now, I ask, how can such a construction be 
placed on these obvious phrases, as to make it consist- 
ent for about 11.800 ministers out of 12,000 to stay in. 
the United States, and about the same proportion in. 
Great Baetian : The Apostles showed by their conduct 
what they understood by the word i Go.' By what 
reasoning, I ask, has \t been made to mean, 59 cases 
out of 60, send, contribute, and educate young men 1 
If an inhabitant of another planet should visit this earth, 
and see ministers clustered together in a few favored 
spots, could you make him believe, that they hold in 
their hands the commission first delivered to the Apos- 
tles ? 

Would it be thought dutiful in military officers to 
treat the orders of their Commander in Chief as we do 
the command of our Master ;, or in mercantile agents 
to interpret thus loosely the instructions of their em- 
ployers ? The perversion, however, has become so 
much a second nature to us, that we are entirely insen- 
sible of it, and the fact may be numbered among other 
wonders of a like kind, which the experience of a few- 
past years has exhibited. A few years since, good men 
were in the use of inioxicating drinks without dreaming 
it a sin. and s:) now we may be shaping our course very 
wide from the command of our Savior and yet think 
not. of the guilt we incur. 

The m sconstriictio;] has become so universal and so 
firmly established, — the true and obvious- interre- 
lation buried so deep in the rubbish of things gone by, 
— that all baoks written on ministerial duty, that I 
have seen, take it for granted that the persons address- 
ed, for the most part, at least, are to preach and labor 
among a people who have long had the gospel. And 
may I not inquire,— -and I would do it with due deffer- 
ence and respect, — do not lectures on Pastoral The- 
ology in the Schools of the Prophets take it too much for 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



granted, that the hearers are to labor in christian lands? 
Is not the business of going into all the world and 
preaching the gospel to every creature, regarded, prac- 
tically, at least, as an exception, for wh ; ch there need 
be no provision in books or lectures ? If Paul were to 
write or lecture on Pastoral Theology, would he not 
give more prominence to the duties that might devolve 
upon his students in foreign l inds? Would he not, in- 
deed, make the work of missions to -stand forth as the 
work, and not as an exception or a peculiarity ? 

The fallacy of endeavoring to convert the world 

BY PROXY. 

Few men, in these last days, can qniet their conscien- 
ces, and yet live in entire neglect of the heathen. Al- 
most all professing christians feel, that they must have 
some interest in the great enterprise. To begin to act 
just as the last command of Christ requires, in its plain 
literal import, as the Apostles understood it, would be 
a hard and self-denying service. What then shall they 
do ? Ah ! they will operate by proxy. This is the 
charming suggestion. Conscience is lulled to sleep and 
the heathen left to perish. 

Now it is true, that many, and perhaps most, must 
aid in the work by proxy — by training up others, by 
sending them forth, by encouraging them, and by furn- 
ishing the necessary means. But the error is, that all, 
with the exception of one minister out of sixty* and one 
layman out of three thousand, are inclined so to act. It 
k wonderful with what electrical rapidity the soothing 
suggestion has spread abroad. It is so insidious and 
speciously good, that it has found its way, like an angel 
of light, to the best hearts and holiest places. Indeed 
it is a point very difficult to be determined ; and many 
judge no doubt with perfect correctness, when they de- 
cide to operate in this way. The danger consists in the 
eager rush and universal resort. To be sensible, that 
there is such a rush, begin and enumerate. Directors 
wd officers of various Societies, (and they are not few,) 



MISTAKEN VIEWS OF THE GREAT COMMISSION. 167 



of Theological Seminaries, too, and of Colleges, think 
they are employed in furnishing the requisite men, tli0 
requisite means, and the requisite instrumentalities, and 
so are preaching to the heathen by proxy. Among 
ministers, the talented and eloquent, the learned and 
the influential think they must labor in the important 
field at home — keep the churches in a state to operate 
upon the world, and so preach to the heathen by proxy. 
Ministers generally, about 1 1,800 out of 12,000, are zeal- 
ous for training up young men, and think in that way of 
preaching to the heathen by proxy. Pious men of 
wealth, and those who are in circumstances to acquire 
wealth, or imagine that they have a talent to acquire it, 
profess to be accumulating the necessary means, and to 
be thus preaching to the heathen by proxy. Sabbath 
School teachers, fathers, and mothers, are fond of the 
notion of raising up children to be missionaries, and of 
thus preaching by proxy. Proxy is the universal resort. 
Now some proxy effort, and much indeed is proper and 
indispensible, but must it not strike every mind, that 
such a universal and indiscriminate rush is utterly un- 
reasonable ? 

How often do we hear the exhortation : i Let moth- 
ers consecrate their children to the missionary work in 
their earliest infancy. Let them be taught, as they 
grow up, that to labor among the heathen is the most 
glorious work on earth. Let teachers in Sabbath schools 
impart such instructions, and ministers in their pulpits. 
Let ministers and elders search out young men, urge 
them to engage in the work of missions, and let the 
churches educate them for that end, and pray for them 
that their zeal fail not. Let no pains be spared and no 
efforts be wanting to raise up and send forth a large 
body of young men to labor for the heathen. ' 

Now in regard to such an effort, every reflecting 
mind can see that it must be a hopeless one — utterly 
hopeless. To succeed, example must become more 
powerful than precept. Commit the work of convert- 
ing the world to your children, and they will commit it 



108 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



to your grand-children. Try instruction in the nursery, 
try instruction in the Sabbath School, try instruction 
from the pulpit, it will fall as powerless as a ray of moon- 
light on a lake of ice, whilst contradicted by the exam- 
ple of mothers, of Sabbath School teachers and of min- 
isters. TJrge young men into the missionary field with- 
out going yourselves ? A general might as well urge 
his army over the Alps without leading them. Conse- 
crate them to the work? Would it not be an unholy 
consecration — a consecration at the hands of those 
who were not themselves consecrated ? The command 
does not say, send, but 'Go.' Let us then go, and urge 
others to C O M E. We shall find this mode of per- 
suasion the most effectual. 

Let us commit to proxy that work, which is pleasant 
and easy and betake ourselves in person to those kinds 
of labor that are more self-denying, and to those posts 
that are likely to be deserted. This is the only principle 
of action that will secure success in any enterprise with* 
in the range of human efforts. Suppose the opposite 
principle is acted upon, — that every one seeks for him- 
self the most easy and pleasant work and the most de- 
lightful and honorable station, and leaves for others the 
most obscure, the most self-denying and the most per- 
ilous. Discover such a spirit in any enterprise, secular 
or religious, and it requires not the gift of prophecy to 
predict an utter failure. You, who are practical and 
business men, understand full well the truth and force 
of this remark. The true method is this : if there is a 
work that is likely to be neglected on account of its ob- 
scurity or self denial, let every one first of all, see that 
that service is attended to. And if there is a post like- 
ly to be left deserted on account of its hardships or its 
perils, let every one be sure first of arl that that post is 
occupied. Let there be an emulation among all to do 
the drudgery of the service, and to man the Thermopy- 
lae of danger. Then you shall read in the vigor and 
nerve of the action an absolute certainty cf success. 

In this way Bonaparte conquered Europe. If a por- 
tion of his army was likely to fall back, there the Gen- 



MISTAKEN VIEWS OF THE GREAT COMMISSION. 109 



era! pressed forward in person, inspiring courage and 
firmness. If all others shrunk from the deadly breach, 
thither he rushed, at once, with the flower of his army. 

This principle of action is not more indispensable in 
the conquests of war, than in the great enterprise of the 
world's conversion. And, how truly glorious ! how 
sublime by contrast ! to exhibit this principle of action, 
not in destroying mankind, but, in laboring for their sal- 
vation ! Let all christians be filled with this spirit, — 
let every- redeemed sinner adopt in practice this rule of 
action, — to do the most self-denying, the most diffi- 
cult and perilous lucrk in person and to commit the 
easiest to proxy — then there would be a sight of moral 
sublimity that Earih has not seen — all the elements in 
action that are needed, under God, to usher in the mil- 
lenial day. 

O, if to angels were committed the instrumentality of 
the world's conversion, where would Gabriel speed his 
Way, if not to the post of peril and to the post of self- 
denying and toilsome drudgery ? I mistake his charac- 
ter much, if he would not betake himself at once to the 
most arduous service. O! how he would delight to 
come down and labor with the lowest being on New 
Holland or New Guinea, and be the instrument of rais- 
ing him up to the throne of Jesus. But, to angels is not 
committed the stewardship of propagating that precious 
gospel, which God has ordained for the world's renova- 
tion. The infinite treasure is placed in our hands, the 
immense responsibility is thrown upon us. O let us 
prove ourselves worthy of such a trust, and not become 
traitorous to the cause, by falling into the general spirit 
of operating by proxy. 

But, in truth, how far do we act on the principle 
named — that of performing in person the most arduous 
service and of leaving the most pleasant work for others? 
Look over the desolate and secluded parts of the United 
States; — look over the heathen world, and make out an 
answer. Let facts speak. Is a residence in Arkansas 
10 



110 



thoughts otf Mission- 



preferred to a residence in New York, or a voyage to 
New Guinea before one to Europe ? 

Our blessed Savior and his apostles did not feel in- 
clined to shrink from the more self-denying service, and 
to shift it upon others. If they had felt so, then, we 
should have continued in a state of darkness, and have 
known full well the import of present wretchedness and 
eternal wo. 

Let us suppose for a moment that the Apostles had 
made the discovery of obeying by proxy the Savior's 
last command. But I hesitate to make such a suppo- 
sition, lest the force of such an immense contrast should 
make it to be regarded as a caricature upon the opera- 
tions of the present age. In other words, our efforts to 
convert the world become so clumsy, slow and ineffi- 
cient, from a lack of the right spirit and enough of it in 
ministers and in the churches, that to impute the same 
kind and degree of effort to the Apostles and primitive 
christians m ght excite a smile rather than a sigh, and 
be deemed an attempt to ridicule what is at present 
done, rather than an earnest, serious and solemn expos- 
tulation. S ich a result I should deplore. But, if my 
readers will believe me, to be aiming simply, with weep- 
ing eyes and an aching heart, to illustrate with force 
my own defects and their short comings in duty, by de- 
tecting and tracing out a wrong principle of action, I 
will venture cautiously to make the supposition. 

The words of the last command have fallen from the 
lips of the ascended Savior, and the Apostles assemble 
to deliberate how they shall carry them into execution. 
In the first place Peter delivers an address. It is an 
able and thrilling discourse. He seems impatient to 
wing his way to foreign lands. After the discourse, 
they form themselves into a society. Arrangements 
being made and the machinery being complete, they 
send forth John to solicit funds. He finds the disciples 
willing to contribute on an average, after much urging, 
about 24 cents each. A pittance of money is obtained, 
and then they search for a man. They thought Peter 



MISTAKEN VIEWS OF THE GREAT COMMISSION. Ill 

would be ready to go, from the speech he delivered, 
but, he wishes to be excused — he has a family to sup- 
port. The) then fall upon various plans, — - some think 
of training up young men to go forth, and others exhort 
parents to infuse a missionary spirit into their children. 
At length, however, it is found, that one of the twelve 
begins to feel, that he has a call to go, (but this would 
be at the rate of 1,000 from the 12,000 ministers in the 
United States.) This one man is sent forth to ' go in- 
to all the world and to preach the gospel to every crea- 
ture. ? The rest of the Apostles sustain the various offi- 
ces of the society, and have charge of important posts in 
Jerusalem and in the cities and villages round about. 
They meet yearly, to deliberate about the missionary 
enterprise. Some feel much, and humbly pray, and 
some say eloquent things about the glorious cause, and 
tell how they have found a fubrum, where to place the 
lever of Archimides to elevate the world. 

Now, I ask most solemnly and in a spirit of grief and 
humiliation, how such a course of conduct would have 
appeared in the Apostles? Would it have evinced a 
spirit of obedience? Believe me, in early times a readiness 
to obey, supplied a great deal of machinery. Bring back 
into the ministers of the present day, the sp rit of the 
Apostles, and into the churches the spirit of the early 
disciples, and operations at once would be more simple 
and more efficient. A backwardness in duty — a dis- 
position, if we do any thing for the heathen, to do it by 
proxy, this is it that makes the wheels so ponderous 
and encumbered. ' The letter killeth, but the Spirit giv- 
eth life.' Give us the spirit and annihilate the notion of 
operating so much by proxy, and we shall soon see a 
multitude of ang Is flying in the midst of heaven having 
the everlasting gospel to preach to the nations. 

No CHEAP OR EASY WAY OF CONVERTING THE WORLD. 

It is to be feared, that some fall into this notion because 
they do not wish to believe, that all they possess is need- 
ed in the work of the Lord, and that there is absolute 



112 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



necessity, that they themselves go to the heathen ? It 
is to be feared, that it is for this reason that so many 
are reudy to imagine, that the work is to be done by a 
few men, and a small amount of means. It would seem 
they expect to form lines of these few men, and encir- 
cle the globe in various directions, — to place them on 
prominent points like light houses, and leave each 
with his single lamp to dispel the darkness of a wide 
circumference. They seem to imagine, that nations can 
be elevated from a degradation many ages deep, and 
thoroughly transformed, religiously, morally, mentally 
and socially, by the influence of a few missionaries, scat- 
tered here and there on some high eminencies of the 
earth ; — that a single missionary, under a withering 
atmosphere, is to be preacher, physician, teacher, law- 
yer, mechanic and every thing that is necessary in rais- 
ing a whole community from the inconceivable degrada- 
tion of heathenism, up to the elevation of an industrious 
intelligent and christian people. 

Neither are the expectations, formed by many, of 
Mission Seminaries, less visionary. A school with two 
or three teachers, limited accomodations and small 
funds, with all its school books to make and the whole 
literature to form, is expected to accomplish all the work 
of the Academy, College and Theological Seminary, 
and speedily to transform untutored sa\ages into able 
preachers of the gospel. 

And it is expected, by not a few, of the wife of the 
missionary though living under a burning sun, in a 
house of poor accomodations, with unfaithful servants, 
or no servants at all, that, notwithstanding, she will not 
only attend to the arduous duties of the household, and 
educate her own children, but, teach a school among 
the people and superintend the female portion of the 
congregation ^— a task which a minister's wife in a 
christian land and under a bracing air, does not often 
attempt. 

Now, would it be really a benefit to the church, thus 
to natter her indolence, and her avarice, and convert the 



Mistaken Views of the great commission. 113 



heathen with a fraction of wealth, and a handful of men ? 
Be assured, God loves the church too well thus to pam- 
per a luxurious and self-indulgent spirit; — he will al- 
low of no cheap and easy way of accomplishing the 
work. The object is worth more — worthy not only 
of the combined wealth of Christendom, but worthy al- 
so of the energies, the toil and the blood, if necessary, of 
the greatest and holiest men. It will not be in consist- 
ence with God's usual providence, that a victory so no- 
ble should be achieved, till the treasures of the church 
shall beHterally emptied in the contest, and the precious 
blood of thousands and tens of thousands of her ablest 
and best men poured out on the field. The work has 
already cost the blood of God's only son, and the pros- 
ecution and finishing of it, shall be through toil, self- 
denial, entire devotement and obedience even unto 
death. 

Some rules that may be of use in agitating the 
question to become missionaries. 

1 . Guard against an excuse- making spirit. This is 
an age of excuses. There is no need of seeking for them 
— they are already on hand and of every variety, size 
and shape. They are kept ready for every occasion. 
If one will not suit, another may be tried. Be admon- 
ished then, that a disposition to be excused is not much 
different from a disposition to disobey. 

2. Guard against antinomianism on the subject of mis- 
sions. There is a great tendency in these days to say 
and do not. The thrill of the missionary theme, like 
an exhiliarating gas, is pleasant to many ; but the sober 
and humble business of engaging in the work is not so 
welcome. A disposition to say much and do little is a 
feature of the most alarming kind. It shows an obtuse- 
ness of conscience. 

3. Remember that divine direction is better than hu- 
man wisdom. We are very much inclined *o argue the 
question, " Where can I do the most good? " Be as- 
sured we can do the most good by obeying the Savior 

10* 



U4 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS'. 



— by carrying out the spirit of his last command. Let 
us keep close to that commai d — it is safer than to de- 
termine by our own dark and biased reasoning, and by 
our very limited foresight, where we can be the most 
useful. 

4. The nearer you live to Jesus the more hope will 
there be of your corning to a right decision. There i& 
a process of conviction and conversion before a man be- 
comes a missionary -r- a serious conflict. Nothing but 
nearness to the Savior will prepare a man to pass 
through such a conflict and keep safely on the side of 
truth and duty. 

5. If after examining thoroughly and prayerfully the 
question of becoming a missionary, the mind waver be- 
tween conflicting reasons, it will be safest to lean to the 
side of the greatest self -denial. 

6. In selecting the place of the greatest usefulness in 
the wide field of the world, the best rule is to fly to the 
post most likely to be deserted. 

7.. A kindred principle is, to do in person the more 
difficult and unpleasmt work and to commit the more 
easy and delightful to proxy. 

8. Remember the time is short. A few days more^ 
and we shall meet our Savior in the presence of a world 
of souls. 

9. Keep in mind the conduct of our blessed Savior, 
and be imbued with his spirit. Feel as he felt, and do. 
as he did. when he beheld us in misery and in sin. 



CHAPTER Vin. 



TRIALS TO BSS MET, NOT SVADUD. 

Comman trials need not be named, and only a few 
of those that are most severe. Take then first, the trial 
of leaving friends. The Savior says : "He that lovefch 
father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and 
he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not 
worthy of me. " The plain meaning is to be christ- 
ians, our love to Christ must be supreme. Now, if it is 
supreme, it will show . itself to be so^, in our conduct. 
There is fail room, even, at th-e present day, for a prac- 
tical test of this condition of d scipleship. Not only is 
the spirit of this passage required, but, in many cases,, 
a literal compliance with the identical things named 
in it. This saying of our Savior has been too much 
forgotten. Like some other important sayings of our 
Lord it has been virtually expunged. It has been re- 
garded as applying only to Apostolic times — to times 
of persecution. This is a wide mistake. If all nations 
are to be enlightened by the use of means, there must 
be a practical exhibition among christians, at the pres- 
ent time, and in all time to come, o-f a love to Christ 
superior to the love which we owe to Father, Mother, 
Son or Daughter. And this love is not spoken of as a 
high attainment in piety, but, as an indispensable con- 
dition of discipleship. The missionary enterprise pre- 
sents many instances of stern necessity, to test and ex- 
hibit this principle. 

The occasion most familiar to the general reader, and 
the one best appreciated by him, is the time when mis- 
sionaries go forth to the heathen. They are compelled 



116 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



to break away from almost every tie. The strength of 
attachment to all that is dear on earth, is a feeling that 
may be experienced, and can be imagined 100, in part, 
but can never be described. There area thousand ties 
and tender ties too, that must be sundered. The lov- 
ed scenes of childhood and youth ; and scenes of sacred 
peace and pleasure, that cluster about the sanctuary, 
the conference room and the praying circle ; must all 
receive a parting thought. Ftiends — dear friends and 
connections must receive a last adieu and a lingering 
look. But, O, how keen the sensation when the last 
sigh, the last tear and the last emb ace is to be exchang- 
ed with Father and Mother, Brother and Sister ; — 
when all the touching associations of kindred and home 
are for once revived to be dismissed forever! 

Imagine not, that the sensibilities of missionaries are 
less exquisite than those of other persons. The pangs 
they endure are indeed alleviated by soothing considera- 
tions drawn from the gospel; but, they are, notwithstand- 
ing, deep — deeper than the looker on may at first sup- 
pose. 

There may be some persons, (I have heard of such,) 
who misrepresent the feelings and motives of mission- 
aries in leaving their friends — who impute to them cold 
hearts and a bluntness of sensibility — who say that 
they are wanting in filial devotion, and can therefore 
leave aged parents to droop and die, — -that they have 
a small share of fraternal affection, and that it is there- 
fore they can break away from the embrace of brothers 
and sisters, and leave them in anguish and in tears. 
All these remarks are sometimes made, and still oftener 
secretly indulged perhaps than openly expressed. It is 
often that the missionary is not allowed to take his leave 
merely with a bleeding heart and a soul gushing with 
emotion ; but, is compelled to endure a keener anguish 
— that of knowing, that the course he is taking, 
agonizing as it is, is imputed by some to a want of sen- 
sibility — to a destitution of the finer, tenderer and more 
delicate feelings that adorn society and that make fan> 



TRIALS TO BE MET, NOT EVADED. 



117 



ilies lovely and happy. Here then are trials; such how- 
ever as he must cheerfully meet for Christ's sake. 

But the separation from home with its numerous and 
nameless endearments, and at the risk of .misrepresen- 
tation, is but the first lesson of obedience. That per- 
son, whose love to Christ is so weak, as to fail here in 
the threshold, would give but poor evidence of being 
prepared for similar and severer trials in prospect. The 
main occasions for exemplifying the spirit of the Sav- 
ior's words to which we have alluded, is on heathen 
ground, when stern necessity calls upon parents to 
mike the be^t disposition in their power in regard to 
their own children. This is an occasion not so well 
understo >d by the christian community as the one I 
have noticed. The difficulties in the way of properly 
training children on heathen ground are not clearly seen, 
neither are all the objections appreciated which attend 
the usual alternative, that of sending them to a christian 
land. These are the occasions of trial, compared with 
which all other sufferings of the missionary are scarcely 
worthy of being named. They are trials, however, that 
must be met not evaded; for the Savior says, ' He that 
loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of 
me. ' They must be cheerfully met and counted " all 
joy, " or we cannot claim the spirit of the first disciples. 

There are those, I know, who would relieve this sub- 
ject at once by proposing the celibacy of missionaries ; 
but, the arguments of such persons can hardly be deem- 
ed worth considering, till they shall know a little more 
" what they say and whereof they affirm." Celibacy for 
ministers at home would be a much more proper and 
expedient arrangement, than for missionaries in most 
foreign fields. And oae would think, that the experi- 
ence of the church, from the days of the Apostles till 
now, had taught us enough to silence at once any such 
proposition, and to place it forever at rest. Were it in 
place for me, I could give reasons here, to the heart's 
content, but, 1 deem it more prudent to forbear. 



118 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



Difficulties in the way of training children on 
heathen ground. 

The difficulties cannot all bo named, and fewer still 
can be justly appreciated by those who have never 
made the attempt. What I shall say will apply partic- 
ularly to barb irons an d degraded nations, such as the 
Sandwich Islanders once were, for it is to such nations 
that the missionary's eve should be specially directed. 

I shall mention first the difficulty of keeping children 
from the pollutions and vies of thz heathen. Children 
have eyes and among the heathen what do thev see? 
1 need only refer you to the knowledge you already 
possess of the naked condition,. vile habits and gross 
vices of a barbarous people. There is much in heathen 
society which cannot be described, but, which children 
must more or less witness. The state of things in this 
respect is very much improved at the Sandwich Islands, 
but, I refer to that condition in which they once were 
— to that Condition in which all birbarous nations are, 
without the light of the Gospel. Imagine then to your- 
self this feature of heathen society, and then repeat the 
inquiry, What do children see ? 

Again, children have ears, and they cannot be so ef- 
fectually closed as to be kept from learning in some 
measure the language of the heathen. And if they be- 
come acquainted with the language of the heathen, 
what do they hear day after day ? In many a pagan 
country, they are liable to hear disputes, contentions, 
revilings, execration and blasphemy; but, what is more, 
they are liable to heir in familiar, unblushing and open 
conversation, words and phrases which are not so much 
as to be named. The heathen have no forbidden words 
in their language. Every term is liable to be brought 
into public and frequent use without the least sense of 
impropriety. 

On account of this pernicious example and vile con- 
versation, many missionaries, where it is practicable, 
make walls about their houses, and endeavor by strict 



TRIALS TO BE MET, NOT EVADED. \19 



inclosures to prevent their children from having inter- 
course with the natives. This can be done in some 
places, and to some degree, whilst children are young, 
but, when they are somewhat grown up, it is preposter- 
ous to think of keeping them within inclosures. And 
as soon as they are out of their inclosures, there are a 
thousand pitfalls ready for their feet, on the right hand 
and on the left. How much solicitude was felt by Abra- 
ham and Isaac for their childre n on account of the hea- 
then population which surrounded them! This pernicious 
influence, better imagined than described, and still better 
seen than imagined, is one of the reasons which lead mis- 
sionaries to undergo the agony of separation, and to send 
their children to a christian land. This evil at the Sand- 
wich Islands is much diminished, but not so much so as 
may at first glance be supposed, from the progress in 
Christianity which has been made and from the power- 
ful revivals which have here been experienced. 

Again it must be remarked, that children trained up 
on heathen shores are in danger of contracting habits 
of indolence. Heathen nations, as a general remark, 
exert themselves no oftener and no longer than they 
feel the pressure of present want. They are far from 
being industrious, and farther still from any thing like 
enterprise. Those nations that are partly civilized ex- 
hibit more or less industry, and are acquainted with 
some of the arts ; but, ba:barous nations are acquainted 
with none of the improvements that elevate society, and 
exhibit a state of lounging indolence and torpid inac- 
tivity. If there be noise, it is not the rattle and whirl 
of business, or the hum of industry, but, the noise of 
giddy mirth, boisterous and unmeaning laughter, or 
fierce and angry contention. If there be stillness,it is 
not the peace and quiet of well ordered society, but, 
the gloomy and death-like stillness of indolence, sensu- 
ality and beastly degradation. Now, who does not 
know, that children are likely to be much influenced by 
the aspect and character of the society by which they 
are surrounded ? Who does not know, that they are 



120 



THOUGHTS NO MISSIONS 



likely to imbibe the spirit of the nation in which they 
live, whether on the one hand, it be that of industry and 
enterprise, or on the other, that of sensual ease and tor- 
pid indolence ? Let a youth be trained up in a village 
of intelligence, active industry and stirring enterprise ; — 
let his ears be filled with the noise of business from 
morning till night ; — let him travel in stages, in steam 
boats and on rail- roads, and it will be next to impos- 
sible for him to be indolent and sluggish. But in hea- 
then society, the whole atmosphere is entirely different, 
it is a choke damp to all activity, and it falls on the 
senses with a benumbing and deadening influence. 

But, more than this, missionaries have no business in 
which to employ their children ; and if it were possible 
to devise business, in which to employ them, there is no 
one to superintend their labor. Missionaries have no 
time for the purpose, and no other persons, among most 
pagan nations, can be found who are trusty and compe- 
tent. This is a stubborn fact, and stands in the way as 
a very great obstacle. Neither, in most cases, can the 
children of missionaries be kept industrious in the ac- 
quisition of knowledge. Their fathers and mothers can- 
not devote so much of their time to their children as to 
keep their minds industriously employed in the pursuit 
of knowledge, and as to -schools, most missions are not 
thus favored. Missionaries, then, if they keep their 
children on heathen ground, run the risk of seeing them 
grow up in habits of inactivity and indolence. This, if 
a risk, is a fearful one ; for missionaries ardently wish 
their children to be useful when they themselves shall 
be dead. But, indolence and usefulness are the oppo- 
sites of each other ; whereas indolence and vice are 
closely allied. To prevent, then, this deadly evil, of 
having their children grow up in indolent habits, is one 
of the strong reasons why missionaries resort to the 
heart-rending alternative of parting with their children, 
with but little probability of seeing them again this side 
the grave. 

Again, as the state of things now is, the children of 



TRIALS TO BE MET, NOT EVADED. 



121 



missionaries, if kept on heathen ground, can possess 
but very limited advantages for mental improvement. 
Their mothers cannot be depended upon to instruct 
them much in literature and the sciences. Under the 
influence of a withering atmosphere, often sick, with no 
help in many countries, in their domestic affairs, but m> 
trusty servants, and often with no help at all, and oblig- 
ed to attend to many calls from -the people, or run the 
risk of giving offence, how can they be expected to find 
much time and strength for disciplining the minds of 
their children and storing them with useful knowledge? 
They may succeed in giving them an acquaintance with 
the branches of common education, but to carry thenj 
into the higher branches is, as a general remark, entirely 
out of the question. Such a task is by no means ex- 
pected of a minister's wife at home, much less can it be 
expected of the wife of a missionary 

Neither can their fathers be depended upon to give 
a thorough education. Ministers at heme would find it. 
a great encroachment upon their time to spend several 
hours each day in instructing their own children ; but, 
they have vastly more leisure to do so than the foreign 
missionary* To instruct a class of 3 or 4, requires the 
same apparatus, the same preparation in the teacher, 
and the same number of hours each day, as would be 
required for a classofSO or 40. But, should a mission- 
ary devote such an amount of time and means to his 
own family it must be to the neglect of Other labor. 
The most economical, and the most efficient course by 
far, evidently is to collect together a sufficient number 
of missionaries' children to form a school, and devote a 
competent number of teachers entirely to that work. 

But even where such schools can be enjoyed, they 
must be attended with many risks and privations, and 
be only preparatory in their nature. Those scholars, w ho 
may need a thorough education, must be still under the 
necessity of visiting a christian land. Tt is, too, of great, 
and perhaps indispcnsible importance, that youth who 
are trained for active life, should see the industry , enter- 
11 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS* 



prise and intelligence of a christian land, and so far at 
least, partake of its character and imbibe its spirit 

Missionaries, then, must either suffer their children to 
grow up with a very limited education, or submit to the 
alternative sooner or later of sending them to a chistian 
land. But, missionaries see the want of laborers in the 
great field of the world, . and ardently desire that their 
children may be qualified to take part in the work. 
They choose therefore the present anguish of separation, 
bitter as it may be, that there may exist a reasonable 
prospect, that their children, at some future day, shall 
be eminently useful in the vineyard of the Lord. 

One other difficulty I must name and that is, that 
missionaries' children, if kept on heathen ground, ivill 
have no prospect of suitable employments when old e- 
nough to settle in life. They will Lave no trades. To 
be merchants they will not have means. They will not 
be acquainted with agriculture, and in many countries 
will not be able to obtain land to cultivate. Some who 
are fit for the work may become preachers and teachers, 
but will not command the influence that they would if 
they were educated iu a christian, land. -.Thus the pros- 
pect of suitable employment is very dark, and. is a fact 
in the case of much weight. 

These reasons and others that might be named, pos- 
sess in the minds of missionaries immense force — force 
onough in many instances to induce them to tear from 
their embrace the dear objects of their love, and to send 
them over a wide ocearuto the care of friends, and often 
to the care of strangers. They do not lead all parents 
to this result, for on the other hand, there are strong, 
very strong objections to. such a course. The trial in 
either case is very great, but, -it is one that must 
he met, not evaded. It is wise to count the cost, but 
it is treason to be faint-hearted, for the trial, after all, 
cannot weigh much in the balance against the eternal in- 
terests of the dying heathen. How much worse is the 

CONDITION OF MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF HEATHEN 

CHILDREN ! 



TRIALS TO BE MET, NOT EVADED. 



Reasons in the minds of missionaries for not 
sending their children home. 

The first objection is, that such a measure seems un- 
natural. That it is a violation of nature, all parents not 
only admit, but, most deeply feel. God has implanted 
feelings in the breast of natural parents, which pecul .ar- 
]y fit them to take care of their own children. A T o oth- 
er persons can precisely take their place, and feel the 
same interest, the same unwearied concern; the same 
unprovoked temper and unchangeable love through 
good report and through evil report. In a word, no 
other persons, however good and worthy, can be natural 
parents. Guardians can be found, who will feel a warm 
inte;est in those children who are bright, interesting,, 
well-behaved and pious. But, to feel properly for child- 
ren that are dull, uninteresting and wayward, requires -i 
parent's heart. 

That this is the state of the case, is too true to be de- 
nied. For parents, then, to violate this provision of na- 
ture, is causing a sword to pierce through their own bo- 
soms, and the bosoms of their children, —to do it with- 
out sufficient reasons, is to act at variance with God 
who made them. In the feelings implanted in the 
breasts of parents toward their children, God has estab- 
lished a general rule, — has made known his will, — his 
law,—- indelibly inscribed it on the parents heart. Mis- 
sionaries must be able to plead an exception to this gen- 
eral law, or they will be found to be opposing the will of 
their Maker. That the very strong reasons they can 
urge really justify an exception, is plain to the minds of 
many, but, not to the minds of all. 

Another objection arises from the command binding 
upon parents to train up their children in the nurture 
and admonition of the Lord. It is clear to the minds 
of some missionaries, that the spirit of this and similar 
commands is complied with, when they make provision 
according to the best of their judgment, for the relig- 
ious education of their children. By others it is thought: 



124 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



that these explicit commands of God cannot be obeyed 
by any arrangement which commits the work to proxy, 
■ — -that there is risk in committing the work to others, — 
that fully to obey God, parents if not removed by death, 
must in person pray with their children and instruct 
them in the truths of the gospel, — and that they must 
do this, not only through the period of childhood, but al- 
so through the season of youth, or, till their children are 
old enough to think and act for themselves. It is ad- 
mitted by all, that it is extremely desirable that parents 
should do this interesting and responsible work in per- 
son. No one else can do it with- the fee-ins: and unc- 
tio:i, which parents naturally exhibit. All, not only ad- 
mit this to be true, hut, feel it, too, to the very centre 
of their souls. But, some think that it is not only very 
desirable, but, altogether indispensible — that any oth- 
er course is an unwarrantable substitution of human wis- 
dom for the explicit direction of the all-wise God. The 
reader may judge for himself whether this position is 
tenable or not. 

There is another objection : if missionaries' children 
are sent home, then, one very important influence of a 
missionary's family upon the heathen, is in a great 
measure lost. Among the heathen, the family consti- 
tution is in ruins. The state of society is almost a per-, 
feet chaos. It is of immense importance therefore, not 
only to inculcate the principles of domestic peace, but, 
actually to bring before their eyes, living examples of 
-well-ordered and happy families. They need to see, 
not only young children well governed, but, also the 
mutual interchanges of love, affection and duty, between 
young people and their aged parents. But, this they 
cannot see if children are sent home. A missionary's 
family, who sends his older children home, and keeps 
with him only those that are quite young, is not lik;- a 
tree adorned with its natural and well proportioned 
branches, but, presents the aspect of a tree closely trim- 
med, and with only a few twigs left at the very top. 
v nd when all his children are sent away, his family pre- 



TRIALS TO BE MET, NOT EVADED. i2§ 

sents the aspect of a trunk without branch, shoot, twig 
or foliage standing alone in an open field. This is un- 
natural, blighting to much of the comfort and cheer- 
fulness of the parental abode, and is not the example, 
which it is desirable to hold up before the eyes- of the 
heatheu. One important reason, then, why a mission- 
ary should have a family, is lost in sending his children 
home. 

I mention as another objection, the dangerous influ- 
ence to which children are more or less exposed on a 
long voyage at sea. From some of the missionary 
fields, the voyage must be 5, 6 or 7 months. I speak 
not of what are called the dangers of the deep, or the 
hardships of a sea life for 6 or 7 months. These are 
of little account. The danger, of which I speak, is the 
pernicious influence to which for that length of time 
they are exposed. This is an objection which, though 
not of sufficient weight in itself to determine one's 
course, yet may come in as an item in making up the 
account. 

On the supposition that children are sent, they go 
of course without their parents. In some cases the 
protector to whom they are to be entrusted may not be 
altogether such as could be desired. Even in case a 
parent accompanies the children, he will find it a great 
task to keep them from many pernicious influences 
during a long voyage. In very many ships, they will 
hear more or less profane, low, vulgar and infamous 
language both in conversation and in song. They will 
see exhibitions of anger, impatience, fretfulness, boister- 
ous laughter and giddy mirth. They will see the holy 
Sabbath made a day of business, or at best a day of 
lounging and idleness. They will be likely on the one 
hand to receive such caresses as to make them vain and 
self-important, or on the other hand to be so treated as 
to chafe their tempers and injure their dispositions. In 
short, for 6 or 7 months, they must be thrown into a 
strange family — into a family confined to the narrow 
limits of a ships cabin and deck — into a family over 
11* 



126 r He ws u ts- qs mi s si o n S . - 

which the parent of the: children has no control — -mid 
a family, too, composed of that variety of character and 
disposition who sail on the ocean. Thus circumstanced, 
children inevitably suffer much, even under the vigilant 
eye of a parent, and still more would they suffer under 
any eye less careful and attentive. This moral danger 
to which children are exposed at sea, though notan ob- 
jection of the strongest kind, is yet an item worthy of 
being noticed. Missionaries think of it when sending 
away their children, and dread it far more than tem- 
pests and tornadoes. 

Another objection is, that no adequate provision is 
made for the support and education of missionaries' 
children if sent to a christian land. All the provision 
that is made by the American Board is 50 dollars a year 
for a boy for six years, or between the ages of 12 and 18: 
and 40 dollars a year for a girl during the same period 
of time. Now, every one sees, that this is a sum scarce- 
ly sufficient to furnish. them with food and clothing, and 
that during only a few years, without any provision for 
sickness or any means of education. It may be said, 
that they must be thrown much upon the spontaneous 
charities of Christians and of friends where they happen 
to reside, if such were the case, it admits of a question, 
whether it were not better that no appropriation what- 
ever were made for them. But a dependence on the 
spontaneous charities of the world is a very precarious 
and Unpleasant support ; especially so, since very few 
christians appreciate the reasons and feelings of mission- 
aries in sending home their children, it is in view of 
the feelings of the community, that so small an appro- 
priation is made by the directors of missions ; and if so, 
how much dependence can be placed on the sponta- 
neous charities of the church ? Who of my readers in 
christian lands would be willing to throw a child on 
such a precarious snbsistance. And any other provis- 
ion, can scarcely be hoped for, from any natural prin- 
ciple of calculation, till the patrons and directors of 
missions shall have more children abroad as mission- 



TfllALS TO BE MET, NOT EVADED. 



dnes. Since such, then, is the inadequate provision 
for the support and education of missionaries' children, 
it operates as an objection against sending them home. 

But the strongest objection, in my opinion, is this : 
If no other course can be adopted, than that of sending 
the children home, it is to be feared that the number 
of missionaries will never be so increased as to afford 
a rational prospect of the latter day glory. While the 
plan of sending children home is cherished, it will seem 
so incompatible with a large number of laborers, that 
it will tend to perpetuate the destructive notion, that 
the nations are to be saved by merely a few hundred 
men.' . And to commit the conversion of the world to a 
few men is virtually to consign the nations to eternal 
perdition. If God is to convert the world without the 
use of human instrumentality, then, let the work be re- 
ferred back to him, but, if means are to be employed — 
means in any measure commensurate with the end in 
view, the } 1 repeat the remark, a few men cannot put 
forth the instrumentality needed to elevate all nations. 
To commit the work to a few is "in truth to relinquish it. 
If, then, the measure of sending children home should 
tend in the least to favor this destructive notion, it 
must if possible be avoided. This tendency is disas- 
trous, and is of course an objection of immense force. 

It is clear, that there are, on the one hand, very strong 
reasons for sending children home, and on the other 
hand, very strong objections to such a course. Mis- 
sionaries, then, are reduced to a very trying dilemma. 
Whichever course they choose, it is equally distressing 
to their souls. Whichever way they turn they find e- 
nough to rend their hearts with anguish. There are 
two cups, mixed indeed with different ingredients, but, 
equally bitter, one of which they must drink. Their 
only comfort is to look upward, pour their sorrows into 
the ear of God, and cast their cares on him who careth 
for them. This is a trial, the sting of which cannot be 
appreciated except by those who have felt it. It is by 
far the greatest trial of the missionary, and probably 



128 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



greater than all his other trials combined. The pain of 
leaving one's kindred and country is nothing compared 
with it. 

But, if the cup be of such a mixture, can there be 
found those whose hearts are so insensible, us to throw 
in other ingredients to make the draught more bitter. 
If "missionaries keep their children, and ask for the requi- 
site means of education, shall they be called extravagant ? 
If they send them home, shall they be regarded and rep- 
resented as possessing but a smaM share of natural affec- 
tion ? 

Here then are trials, but however great, they are to 
be met, not evaded — met by the churches, iriet by 
missionaries; and however severe and agonizing such 
trials, thay are nothing in the balance against the dying 
condition of the heathen. The situation of our 1 child- 
ren, trying as it is, is unspeakably better than that of 
300,000,000 of heathen children and youth.-. The Sav- 
ior commands — the world is dying — and he that lov- 
eth son or daughter more than Christ is not worthy of 
him. 

Other thoughts about missionaries 5 children 

The inquiry is worth notice, whether the situation of 
missionaries cannot be so altered as to change very 
materially the state of the question, in regard to their 
children ? Would not such a change be effected by 
the going forth of laymen in great numbers, andof all 
the useful" professions, arts and employments, so as to 
form little circles here and there over the earth ? 

A great part of the heathen world is open for such 
classes of men. Appeals for such men nave been sent 
from Africa, Asia Minor, Siam, the Sandwich Islands, 
and in short, from almost every mission. They would 
of course labor under greater or less disadvantages ; but, 
these disadvantages should only have the effect to call 
forth the more energy, patience and perseverance. 

But, it wiH be asked, how would the going forth of 



TRIALS TO BE MET, NOT EVADED. 129 

such classes of men better the condition of missionaries" 
children? 

1. They would afford society — form a public sentiment, 
and thus serve in a measure to keep children from the 
influence of a heathen population. It is already found 
on heathen ground, that where there are several fam- 
ilies of missionaries, the children form a society among 
themselves, but, where there is but one family, the 
children are more inclined to seek society among the 
degraded objects about them. 

2. Again, if men of various useful employments 
should be located with the missionary, there would be 
held no before the children, examples of christian indus- 
try and enterprise ; whereas in their present isolated 
condition, the children suffer from an atmosphere of in- 
dolence and stagnation. 

3. The going forth of such men to introduce the dif- 
ferent arts and occupations, would afford suitable employ- 
ment for the children and youth of missionaries, and 
furnish them to some extent with permanent situations 
in mature life. 

4. If there were such little circles of laymen, as we 
suppose, they would have at whatever sacrifice, as the 
Pilgrims of New England did, institutions of learning 
among themselves, where children and youth might re- 
eeve a suitable education. 

Unless some arrangement .of th's kind can be made, 
the trials of missionaries must remain unrelieved and 
unmi tigated. And even with such an arrangement, the 
trial would be only, in part removed, ./Even then the. 
children of n reign, laborers would by no means receive 
all the advantages of a chrisiim land, neither would 
they be shielded from all the evils of a heathen 'commu- 
nity. Bat it is worthy of thought, whether by such an 
arrangement, they would not be so far shielded, and 
possess advantages to such an a neurit, as to change the 
preponderance of argume t. 

The!>, ia addition to this or some similar arrangement, 
should not christians be more liber. d in affording means 



130 



THOUGHTS ON MISSIONS. 



and facilities for education, and expect of missionaries 
to devote to their children more of their time 1 

One thing is certain, that unless some coarse can be 
adopted by which a Urge body of christians and of 
christian ministers shall be scattered abroad, we can- 
not reasonably look fjr the latter day glory. A small 
scattering band of missionaries abroad, and so situated 
as to be obliged to send their children home, is not a 
method that promises very much toward disseminating 
light and truth throughout the whole earth. It is too 
small a measure of christian action, — utterly inade- 
quate to the greatness of the work. More liberal things 
must be devised, — things bearing some proportion to 
the end in view. 

I have now brought before your minds the greatest 
of all missionary trials, and yet I urge many of you, 
ministers and laymen, and urge you considerately and 
solemnly too, to enter the work. I have not hesitated 
to state freely the whole difficulty, for I am in no wise 
unwilling that you should count the cost. And, I would 
say with Gideon, ' Whosoever is fearful and afraid let 
him return and depart early.'' God desires no faint- 
hearted men in his service. He desires men that shrink 
from no self-denial for his sake. For after their trials 
are over, (and they will be but short,) he wishes to crown 
them with glory, and place them at his own right hand 
as partners of his throne. He will place no mean and 
faint-hearted men there. He will place none there who 
are not worthy of him.,. And remember that he said. 
4 He that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not 
worthy of me.' 

ENTIRE CONSECRATION OF CHILDREN, NOT A DUTY PE- 
CULIAR TO MISSIONARIES. 

In looking at the embarrassment of missionaries i-n 
regard to their children, a thought something like this 
is apt to arise : missionaries are by profession a class 
of self-denying persons, and this trial is only in consist- 
ency with the life they have chosen. Now. where in 



TRIALS TO BE MET, NOT EVADED. 



131 



the Bible do you find, that a spirit of self-denial and of 
consecration is enjoined peculiarly upon missionaries 
more than upon others ? Where do you find it intima- 
ted, that a missionary spirit is a thing superadded to 
christian character ? An entire consecration of our 
children to Christ is not a test of. missionary spirit, but, 
a test of discipleship. Not the missionary, but, 1 he 
that loyeth son or daughter -more than me is not worthy 
of me. ' 

The spirit of this injunction requires all parents to 
train up their children in that way in which they may 
be of the greatest service to Christ, and not only be 
willing, (that would be but a small measure of chris- 
tian feeling,) but, earnestly and constantly pray, that 
they may be employed in that part of his vineyard, and 
in that kind of work, where they can be instrumental 
of the most good ; even though it be on some distant 
shore, teaching the alphabet to the ignorant and degra- 
ded. 

But, is this the spirit which prevails in the churches ? 
I have seen it stated that, of twenty or more young men 
..at Andover, who were at the same time agitating the 
question of their duty to become missionaries, all but 
two were opposed by their parents, and these two were 
the sons of widows. Many other facts of a similar kind 
might be added, if it were best to name them. Many 
parents give their children to the Lord when young, and 
talk of locating them on the shores of Japan, or New 
Guinea ; but, the very manner of educating them — in 
softness, delicacy and helplessness, shows at once that 
such profession is mere pretence. Many parents are 
quite ready to consecrate their children before they be- 
come pious. ' O, if the Savior would only convert my 
child I would readily yield him to go to any part of the 
world, and to perform any service for which he might be 
fitted. ' The child becomes a christian and proposes 
to go to the heathen. The parents cling, — dissuade, 
and throw every consideration in the way to keep him 
at home. 



132 



THOUGHTS OX MISSION'S. 



At the judgment day, if E mistake not, we shall see a 
great deal cf our conduct in a different light from what 
we do now. 

The spirit of the gospel is a spirit of self denial for 
the sake of Christ. The Savior is worthy of our high- 
est love, and no earthly attachment can be allowed to 
come in competition with the supreme affection which 
we owe to him. This love to Christ must be manifest- 
ed by obeying his commandments. To yield strict o- 
bedience to Christ in this world, disordered ai d con- 
fused by sin, it is frequently necessary to sunder some of 
the tenderest ties on "earth. Keen as is the sensation, it 
must be endured. A child must not cling unduly to a 
parent nor a parent to a child, but each cling with more 
ardent feelings and firmer grasp to Jesus Christ and his 
cause. This world is not our rest. v Neither is it a 
place to give much indulgence to many of the fond af- 
fections of the soul. There is no time for it. We live 
in a world of sin, — a confused, disordered and chaotic 
world, — in a revolted territory, — among a crowd of 
sinners dying an eternal death. The main point then 
is to save our own souls and the souls of as many as 
possible of our fellow men, before the grave shall close 
upon us. The indulgence of many of our tenderer 
feelings of love and fondness mnst be postponed to a 
more peaceful abode. While in a world of dying souls, 
where SO millions a year plunge into the burning lake, 
self denial and laborious effort are the things most in 
place. Parental and filial affection should be deep and 
ardent indeed, but, under the control of judgment. 
Love to Christ and to souls must predominate and gov- 
ern our conduct. 

THE E>7D. 



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